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The Nineteenth Century American Architecture Furniture Design: A Parade of Revival Styles, 1840–76
The landscape of nineteenth-century American architecture and furniture design is characterized by a spectacular procession of revival styles that draw inspiration from the vocabulary of past times. These styles were propagated in an era marked by rapid urbanization, industrial expansion and mechanization, mass immigration, and political strife, particularly encapsulated by the Civil War. The philosophical movement known as Romanticism, which advocated revisiting the simplicity of past eras to find solace amid the complexities of contemporary society, fueled a surge in revival styles among American elites.
Prominent architectural theorists like Andrew Jackson Downing 1815–1852 emphasized that the style of one's residence should reflect personal values and aspirations, echoing a desire for national pride and progress. Downing collaborated with architect Alexander Jackson Davis on influential publications such as Architecture of Country Houses 1850, which argued that styles like Greek Revival were emblematic of American optimism during its formative years under a democratic system akin to ancient Greece.
Greek Revival architecture, most prominent in the decades before and after mid-century, symbolized patriotism and national pride. This style was particularly favored for urban mansions built by businessmen who sought to assert their civic status through monumental facades and grand interiors. The Italianate style, popular among suburban dwellings or villas, was considered suitable for larger homes owned by industrialists.
Gothic Revival houses, often situated in semi-rural settings, were tlored for intellectual gentlemen and clergymen. Their formal, high-backed furniture 1986.204 could be found both indoors and out, from private study roo dining areas.
Rococo Revival styles dominated the world of interiors and furnishings rather than exterior designs, ling an elegantly French touch to drawing rooms or parlorsa traditionally feminine space. These rooms were typically adorned with intricate detls that hinted at wealth and sophistication.
The modern era of Gothic oak furniture post-1870 was epitomized by Charles Locke Eastlake's influential book Hints on Household Taste first English edition 1868, first American edition 1872. This style gned popularity through British design reformers who advocated for more honest and functional furniture.
In the latter part of the century, taste in furnishings became increasingly eclectic. Furniture styles no longer rigidly adhered to room-specific prescriptions. Instead, home designers began relying on professionally trned architects and designers who innovated rather than merely replicating past styles.
The introduction of professional design services transformed interior decoration into a specialized field, allowing for and bespoke designs that transced traditional norms. This period also heralded the rise of new materials, techniques, and decorative styles that expanded the creative horizons of American artisans and designers alike.
Citation
Peck, Amelia. “American Revival Styles, 1840–76.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http:www.metmuseum.orgtoahhdrevihd_revi.htm October 2004
Further Reading
Voorsanger, Catherine Hoover, and John K. Howat, eds. Art and the Empire City: New York, 1825–1861. Exhibition catalogue. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000.
Additional Essays by Amelia Peck
Peck, Amelia. “American Quilts and Coverlets.” October 2004
Peck, Amelia. “Candace Wheeler 1827–1923.” October 2004
Peck, Amelia. “American Needlework in the Eighteenth Century.” October 2003
Peck, Amelia. “Alexander Jackson Davis 1803–1892.” October 2004
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Nineteenth Century American Architecture Revivals Greek Revival Houses and Industry Leaders Gothic Revival Furniture Intellectual Gentlemen Italianate Villas for Industrialists Rococo Revival Interiors French Elegance Charles Locke Eastlakes Modern Era Furniture