Evolution of American Revival Architectural Styles, 1840 1876: Romanticism and Beyond

American Revival Styles, 1840 - 1876

The Nineteenth-century American architecture and furniture design are characterized by a series of revival styles that draw inspiration from past design vocabulary in response to the rapid urbanization, manufacturing expansion, mechanization spread, large influx of poor immigrants, and the Civil War. This period was marked by an embrace of Romanticism which advocated for a reevaluation of simple aspects of the past as means to find contentment within the complexity of the present.

These revival styles were widely disseminated through various mediums such as print portfolios, books, journals targeted at cabinetmakers, builders, and general readers. Some revivals were exclusive to furniture design while others influenced both exterior and interior design of buildings. Leading design theorists of this era like Andrew Jackson Downing 1815 - 1852, in his extensively read 'Architecture of Country Houses' 1850, proposed that the style of one's house should reflect personal values, beliefs, and desired societal perception.

Greek Revival architecture was predominant from the 1820s to the 1830s, embodying American patriotism during a period when democratic principles, adapted from ancient Greekseemed robust. This style was well-suited for suburban houses owned by businessmen. Gothic Revival structures were typically found in more rural settings and were prescribed for scholarly gentlemen or clergy members.

The Rococo Revival, limited to interiors and furniture design, spoke of elegance and French sophistication making it a favorite for creating a feminine ambiance in drawing rooms or parlors. White and gold color palettes along with elaborately carved furniture pieces were typical. Gothic Revival furniture, referencing medieval universities and cloisters, was often placed in home libraries regardless of the house's exterior style.

Renssance Revival furniture was thought suitable for the music room in a Second Empire housea French architectural style popular during Napoleon III's reign 1852 - 1870. This period saw taste evolve beyond rigid prescriptions; styles were no longer strictly confined to rooms. It marked the ascancy of professionally trned architects and designers who innovated their own designs rather than relying solely on historical styles.

After the Civil War, Modern Gothic oak furniture gned popularity in Britn due to Charles Locke Eastlake's book Hints on Household Taste first English edition 1868, first American edition 1872. Eclecticism grew in taste from the mid-1870s onwards; styles were no longer rigidly assigned for specific rooms. This period also saw design becoming a professional domn.

Citation

Peck, Amelia. “American Revival Styles, 1840 - 1876.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-2024. http:www.metmuseum.orgtoahhdrevihd_revi.htm Accessed on date

Additional Essays

Peck, Amelia. “American Quilts and Coverlets.”

Peck, Amelia. “Candace Wheeler 1827 - 1923.”

Peck, Amelia. “American Needlework in the Eighteenth Century.”

Peck, Amelia. “Alexander Jackson Davis 1803 - 1892.”

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