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Explain the features of Romanticism in architecture. In what ways did this differ from the Classical in terms of both style and philosophy? Romanticism also called The Picturesque Style. Romanticism began in the asses and lasted through the asses, Romanticism is largely a movement that grew out of the lingering effects of the revolt against aristocratic rule that began with the French Revolution (Palmer, 10 Junk 2011). This essays will analyses both Romanticism and Classicism differences, it will also analyses the style of Romanticism and begin to explain what is represented by this movement.
From this essays, the features of Romanticism will be uncovered. Romanticism was thought to represents strong emotion and expressed spiritual and religious beliefs. Romanticism in art is traditionally understood in terms of its culture context, its philosophical ideas, and it types of sources, while a characterization of its style remains elusive (Palmer, 10 Junk 2011). The period of Romanticism architecture in a not so progressive manner, they believe nature and God had become one, and wisdom, history, and mythical intrigue influenced how people viewed life and inconformity.
Romanticism is often associated with allegory. It is as though the pavement has hidden meanings expressing beauty and strangeness. In general, romantic style often using asymmetrical organization and avoid using the geometrical arrangement. The style was very fanciful and truly exaggerated with a wide selection of beautiful designs which include incommoding, paintings and other materials. Despite the fascination of Romantic with nature and the universe and their interest in changing society with their newfound individualism, they liked to remember the beauty of the Gothic style.
This nostalgic view of the past grew as their hope for better everything and mystic influences later portrayed in art and literature rated a visual awakening for many. The Romantic architecture setting which aimed to stress the importance of nature with grand castles and extremely decorative towers based upon medieval cathedrals. This architectural style consisted of grandiose and sometimes overwhelming details. Its asymmetrical structure and vertical framings added heights and majestic facades to buildings of all sizes. Gargoyles, circulations, spires, and window frames were added to small churches and public facilities.
Buildings during this time represented eccentric natural expression beauty, the bigger and more decorative the better. Romanticism in architecture became very popular, especially with aristocracy, this being the reason why many rich people begun to alter their homes. The most famous is William Beckoned, an English Novelist who was born in Fontanel, Wiltshire (Backwardness. Com, 2014). He was a huge fan of romanticism architecture style. He employed an architect called James Wyatt to design Fontanel Abbey; Fontanel Abbey was a huge 520 acre estate on which a rather eccentric gothic style castle or cathedral was completed in 1807.
Fontanel Abbey a country house with a tower 270 feet high (Million, 2011). Besides that, there is another famous Romantic Architecture trademark. It is Walpole Strawberry Hill castle. Horace Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister, hired Johann Heimlich Mount built Strawberry Hill to house his vast collection of treasures. In creating Strawberry Hill, Walpole inspired a new fashion for gothic in both architecture and literature (Extraterritoriality. Org. UK, 2014). Horace Walpole mentioned ‘It was built to please my own taste, and in some degree to realism my own visions. Strawberry Hill took many of the decorative elements of exterior medieval Gothic and moved them to the interior of the house (Ross, 2014). There is so many famous architect and designer on Romantic period such as John Nash. Nash were hired by Prince Regent, for ideas on developing the farmland called Marrowbone Park and surrounding areas. After that, Prince Regent asked Nash remodeling Brighton Pavilion into a palace. Nash begin with Indian design, and as work progressed, incorporating further Eastern design elements. The result has been called “Indian Gothic with a flavor of Chinese” (Hardwood, 1993).
Sir Charles Barry, one of the architects of Gothic Revival in England. In 1836, Barry won the contest of designing a new Houses of Parliament building, also called Westminster Palace (Encyclopedia Britannic, 2013). John Risking rebelled against classical architecture and the society of his time in general. Although not bold enough to admit his true opinions true his writings, his studies on medieval architecture became some of the most influential in the rise Gothic building. His most memorable influence was the Oxford Museum of Natural History (Lancaster. C. UK, 2014). In addition, A. W. N Puking, the architect, writer and theorist, had an enormous influence upon architecture and design into the mantic period. His conversion to Catholicism and his advocacy for a ‘correct’ form of Gothic architecture that reflected faith. His publications influenced small churches, cathedrals, and institutions. Furthermore, the Gothic Revival movement could be said to begin in Britain, France also experienced an architectural awakening as many Romantics traveled to Paris to search for inspiration.
After France’s De Christianization, many looked back to the middle Ages as true Christian era. Thus began a period of preservation of their old buildings in the midst of their Restoration period (Perez. Com, 2014). Prosper Merrier is French dramatist, historian and archaeologist. His pessimistic Romanticism and writings on mysticism, as well as his interest in the unknown made him responsible for the preservation of many Gothic buildings. He is well known as a Gothic architectural inspector (and. Com, 2014). Classicism dates back to 1700 A. D.
This particular style was very popular with the Romans and inspired by the Ancient Greeks. Classical buildings are often thought to symbolism architecture of great importance such as town halls, banks or chapels. The classicism architecture represents symmetry, geometry, simplicity, harmony and hemolytic solidity. This is much more different with Romanticism architecture. The detail of the stonework was developed greatly after Romans discovered bricks and concrete which enabled them to customize the aesthetics and properties of their towns and cities (lugubriousness’s. Org. UK, 2014).
Classicism can usually be identified by the following characteristics, the posts and lintels which stand proud across the entrance. The Roman arch is also regarded as a primary characteristics of classical architecture, due to efforts by the Roman arches were able to be wider panned and still with stand the weight of the stone and maintaining a strong structure over which an enormous dome acted as roof (Sober, 2014) . There are many examples of classical architecture such as basilica, Amphitheatre and triumph arches. A perfect example of Classicism Architecture would be The Pantheon.
The Pantheon is known to be one of the greatest spiritual buildings in the period. The grand entrance is emphasized by the Corinthian capitals used to support the concrete lintel above. This magnificent building incorporates the three main characteristics of classicism; the post, lintel, dome and the archways (dialogues. It, 014). Neo-classicism architecture developed greatly in the late 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and America, it emphasized a return to the Classical period to align the rules and principals of Classicism.
Neoclassicism was born out of a rejection of the Rocco and late Baroque style in the middle of 18th century. Neo classicism suggested that man could be perfect nature through science. Neoclassicism has many symmetrical shape, tall columns that rise the full height of the building (Craven, 2014). Symmetrical Neoclassical buildings modeled after classical Greek temples were thought to symbolize principles of Justice and democracy. One of the most influential Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, drew upon Palladian and Classical ideals when he drew architectural plans for the new nation, the United States (Craven, 2014).
In both the Classicism and Romanticism style, it is fair to say that both forms and architecture are represent by such a grand scale and detailed stonework as well as being their recognized for their both decorative characteristics(Million, 2011). Moreover, Classicism thought of the world as having a rigid and stern structure, the Romanticism thought of the world as a place to express their ideas and believes. This had cause the style of architecture become so different. Classicism architecture was renowned for the levels of mathematics and science used. Education was the main philosophical for the design reason.
Romanticism was played with the unseen, unreal and emotional style of nature and the elements to convey what the architect experienced or felt like expressing Classicism architecture is often built on town halls, banks, temple or chapels but Romanticism architecture is built on churches, cathedrals, and castles (Million, 2011). Again Classicism architecture got three strong characteristics such as the posts and lintels, dome and he arches but Romanticism architecture most common characteristic is its lifting of architectural elements from almost any source.
In conclusion, grand changes were made between Classicism and Romanticism architecture. Many changes occurred throughout the design movement in both style and philosophy. The classicism philosophies altered from mathematics, education and symbolic state and the romanticism style represents the expression, drama and emotion with spiritual and religious meaning. Design and style is widely evolved from simplistic symmetrical, geometry to asymmetrical creative and ‘picturesque’ beauty. Bibliography Backwardness. Mom, (2014). The Beckoned Arms I History of William Beckoned, owner of Fontanel Estate, Disturb Wiltshire.