how did classicism spread in usa?

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History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

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How did Classicism spread in USA?

Term Paper for History of Architecture (AP131)

Akshat Bansal

Roll Number: 23

Sushant School of Art and Architecture

ABSTRACT

In United States , Neoclassical architecture came to be known as the federal style. This paper talks

about the famous architects of the movement, Thomas Jefferson , Benjamin Latrobe, Charles Bulfinch.

The American Architects were in a search of an architectural style after Independence. They considered

the Classical manner to be appropriate for the public buildings. Architects like Thomas Jefferson and

Benjamin Latrobe played an important role in this movement and developed a new architectural style

which was inspired from the Neoclassicism in countries like Italy and Paris. Before this, USA was not

known for any architectural marvel or the style on the global map. This period saw building like

Monticello, state capitol at Virginia, Virginia University, Capitol, etc.

PAPER

What is Neoclassicism?

Neoclassicism was a revived interest in classical forms and ideas that saturated European and

American intellectual thought, architecture and politics during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The neoclassical movement had ideals of order, logic, restrain, and decorum which enabled the

practitioners to imitate or reproduce the structures and themes of Greek or Roman originals.

Neoclassical period saw the return to a strictly logical use of classical architectural elements and was

more and less taken from Greek and Roman art. Formal elements of line and form were used over

colour.

To define and categorize neoclassicism, the art historian George Heard Hamilton stated in 1970: The

use of Greek and Roman forms for symbolic as well as functional purposes, which was a continuous and

often dominant tendency in Western art for a century after 1750, has been called the Classic Revival,

or Neoclassicism, and can be divided into two periods, with a Roman phase conspicuous until 1815 and

a Greek one thereafter. The use of such forms was not always chronologically successive.

In the united states , neoclassicism came to be known as the Federal style. The leading architects were

Benjamin Latrobe, Thomas Jefferson, Charles bulfinch. Thomas believed that the classical style wasappropriate for public buildings.


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The beginning of classic architecture in United States

For the few Americans who travelled to Europe in the eighteenth century, London, France and Italy

were part of the Grand Tour. As a minister of the American government to France, Thomas Jefferson

travelled in France from 1784 to 1789 with profound effects on subsequent American government,

ideas and design.

Nineteenth-century statesmen, literary giants, and artists absorbed the classical world in their travels.

Americans who did not travel became familiar with the classical past through books, engravings and

paintings. Widely published and discussed neoclassical style was spread all over the states and

gained popularity and recognition. For a relatively New Republic, with hardly any contributions in thefield of architecture and literature, neoclassicism style became a ladder to create their identity on a

global level.

Thomas Jefferson

American architecture assumes an unquestioned international significance for the first time with Thomas

Jefferson (1743-1826), who was influenced by French neoclassicism in his search for an architecture

which would symbolize the values of the newly established republic.

Thomas stayed in Europe for four years as American ambassador in Paris. The Pantheon was the

prototype for Jeffersons Rotunda at the University of Virginia. He was equally influenced by the

French architect and painter Charles-Louis Clrisseau, who published Antiquits de la France, Prmiere

partie: Monuments de Nismes in 1778. The Pantheon and Maison Carre (first from Clrisseau) hadprofound impact on Jeffersons architecture.


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Figure 1: Maison Carree at Nimes, France Figure 2: Pantheon, ParisRef:http://greatbuildings.com Ref: http://pantheonparis.com

In Paris, Thomas met Clerisseau and visited the Maison Carre at Nimes and later des cribed it as the

most perfect model existing of what might be called cubic architecture. He found himself gazing

whole hours at the Maison quare, like a lover at his mistress, as he wrote to a friend.

Maison Carre is a superbly preserved early Imperial Roman temple for which Jefferson conceived

passionate admiration.

In 1785 Jefferson designed the State Capitol at Richmond with assistance of Clerisseau. He entrusted

the preparation of the final drawings to Clrisseau, an internationally celebrated draftsman.

Clrisseau persuaded Jefferson to make a third design, reshaping the Capitol exterior on the example

of the Maison Carre, which Clrisseau convinced Jefferson was one of the greatest Roman buildings.

Intending to leave no doubts about the exterior form of the great specimen of classical architecturethat would rise in Richmond, Jefferson adopted the costly European practice of commissioning a scale

model of the proposed building and turned to the eminent modelmaker

Jean-Pierre Fouquet (1752-1829).

Figure 3: state Capital Virginia Figure 4: model of Viriginia CapitolRef: http://lva.virginia.gov Ref: http://lvavirginia.gov

Aside from practical matters of adding windows, Jefferson made few changes to the exterior in

his transformation of the building into the state capitol; engaged columns became pilasters, the

corinthian order became ionic, and the portico shortened.

Monticello
http://greatbuildings.com/http://greatbuildings.com/http://greatbuildings.com/http://greatbuildings.com/


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Monticello (1769-1809) is a perfect example of a neoclassical villa rustica, based on a Roman design,

revised by Palladio. The very personal conception of the house clearly shows the various influences

experienced by its designer: that of Palladio, evidencing in the perfect proportions of the pedimented

porticos, and that of the contemporary neoclassical architecture. The interior spatial organization and

the low elevation were borrowed from contemporary Parisian town house design. The western facade

is dominated by an octagonal dome. It was conceived to be a modern version of French Pavilion.

Monticello gave the effect of a one storeyed building like the villas of ancient Rome.

Figure 5: Plan of Monticello (remodelled)Ref: http://www.monticello.org

Plan of Monticello- intricate planning, with its clear separations between public and private rooms,

derived from contemporary Paris, is asymmetrical and provided Jefferson with a remarkable L shaped

suite of bedroom, cabinet and bookroom, forming what is virtually a continuous space.

The integration of the buildings into the natural landscape, the originality of the plan and design, and

the refined proportions and decor make Monticello an outstanding example of a neoclassical work of

art, while the University of Virginia is an outstanding example of a great educational institution from

the Age of Enlightenment.


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University of Virginia, Charlottesville

The University of Virginia is a fine example of the architectural ideal of the Age of Enlightenment put

to use in the great educational programme of the third President of the United States. Jefferson's most

ambitious and last architectural undertaking was the construction of the University of Virginia.

Elaborating this project, which is based on educational ideals that are both encyclopaedic and

democratic, he departed from pre-existing British or American college planning schemes.

A half-scale copy of the Pantheon in Rome, which houses the library, dominates the academic village.

The 10 pavilions housing the professors of the 10 schools that make up the university are deliberately

based on a distinctive design and are intended to serve as an encyclopedia of classical and

neoclassical architectural designs. However, the connecting colonnades serve to give a feeling of unity

to this space. ( source-UNESCO. Refhttp://www.unesco.org)

The pavilions are elegant and witty versions of Palladian sources with correct antique detailing.Jefferson created an ideal academic community with the special blend of contemplation and industry,

with perfect spatial relationship between buildings and gardens.

Figure 6: University of Virginia Figure 7: University of VirginiaRef:http://www.unesco.org Ref: http://www.unesco.org

Figure 8: University of VirginiaRef:http://www.unesco.org
http://www.unesco.org/http://www.unesco.org/http://www.unesco.org/http://www.unesco.org/http://www.unesco.org/http://www.unesco.org/http://www.unesco.org/http://www.unesco.org/


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Benjamin Latrobe

Benjamin Latrobe was a British-born architect and civil engineer who established architecture as a

profession in the United States. Latrobe was the most original proponent of the Greek Revival style in

American building.

Latrobe was based in Philadelphia. His Philadelphia commission for the Bank of Pennsylvania (1798-

1801), was the first major example of the Greek revival style in America. During this period Latrobe's

designs included the Philadelphia Waterworks (1799), a canal linking the Chesapeake and Delaware

bay (1801-1802), and Princeton's Nassau Hall (1802). In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson appointed

Latrobe as surveyor of public buildings. His main charge was to oversee the construction of the United

States Capitol. In 1807, Latrobe left Philadelphia to live in Washington and later in Baltimore. Hebecame the young nation's preeminent architect, designing many important public buildings and public

works as well as residences and churches throughout the emerging nation. Latrobe also educated

America's next generation of architects, engineers and craftsmen, including Robert Mills and William

Strickland.

Latrobes finest work, St Marys Roman Catholic Cathedral, Baltimore, Maryland(1809-1818). The

cross shaped plan, huge entrance portico and plain wall surface with its segmental dome hovering on

segmental arches which are close in mood to John Soanes halls at the Bank of England. Sir John Soane

was the surveyor of Bank of England and changed almost every part of the bank with time. Soane

displays an originality and control that places him among a small group of architectural innovators. In

his work he concentrates on the detailing of internal spaces and lighting. He frequently incorporated

shallow domes, segmental arches, and clerestories which he emphasized with linear ornamentation and

color. In Latrobes work at the Capitol in Washington, Soane is again recalled.

Figure 9: St Marys Roman Catholic Cathedral Figure 2: The SupremeCourt Chamber CapitolRef: http://www.nps.gov Ref: http://www.nps.gov.in


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Bibliography

1. We the people project.neoclassicism - 1750-1900. chicago : s.n., 2010.

2. Watkin, David.a history of western architecture. london : Laurence King, 1996. 1856690822.

3. Neo classical revival of the 18th century. Hawke, Robyne. 2008.

4. A history of Architecture. Fletcher, Banister. s.l. : elsevier/architectural press, 1996.

5.unesco.org. unesco- world heritage convention. [Online] 1992-2013.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/442.


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