Page 28 - joa-feb-23

Like the preceding Georgian period, domestic architecture in the
Federal style typically came in the form of a simple box, two rooms
deep, with doors and windows arranged in strict symmetry; however,
creative floor plans with elliptical and round spaces were introduced
during this period and the simple exterior box was often modified
by projecting wings (particularly in high-style examples). In
addition, there is a lightness and restrained delicacy to Federal
architectural components in comparison to their heavier, more
ponderous Georgian counterparts.
The Federal style is often described as a refinement of the Georgian
style drawing on contemporary European trends. During this period,
the first true architects appeared on the American scene. Among them
was Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844) who is credited with bringing the
Federal style to the United States after his own European tour. Asher
Benjamin’s (1773-1845) famous pattern books brought Bulfinch’s
interpretations of the Adam style to thousands of American carpenters
and house wrights.
Federal architecture was a sign of urban prosperity, reflecting the
growing wealth of the new nation.

Greek Revival: 1825-1860

While the house is instantly recognizable for its pink exterior, Roseland Cottage
has an equally colorful interior, featuring elaborate wall coverings, heavily patterned
carpets, and stained glass, much of which survives unchanged from the Victorian era.
photo: Historic New England
By 1865 the Gothic Revival style was declining in popularity. It
enjoyed a brief resurgence in the 1870s, stimulated by the writings of
English art historian critic John Ruskin. This High Victorian Gothic
phase was principally applied to public buildings such as churches and
libraries with a few landmark houses with the definitive polychrome
cladding (distinctive linear patterns in masonry distinguished by horizontal
bands of contrasting colors or textures of brick or stonework).
Never as popular as the contemporary Greek Revival or Italianate
styles for domestic architecture, most surviving examples exist in north-
eastern states where architects first popularized the style.
The Russell House on the grounds of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT
was built in 1828 to a design by architect Ithiel Town, and is described as one of the

finest Greek Revival mansions in the northeastern United States. photo: Joe Mabel
Italianate: 1840-1885
Increasing interest in classical buildings in both western Europe and
the United States at the end of the eighteenth century first focused on
Roman models. The Roman legacy can be seen in Early Classical
Revival homes in the southern regions of the east coast, particularly
Virginia. Increasingly, however, archaeological investigations of the
early nineteenth century focused on Greece (as the mother of Rome)
and shifted interest to Grecian architectural models. At the same time,
the War of 1812 increased American resentment of British influence.
These factors led to the flowering of what is now known as Greek
Revival architecture.
“Grecian Style” swept through the country with western expansion.
Taking many shapes, it was the classic form of the Parthenon that
inspired the design of the Bank of the United States in Philadelphia
(1818), and served as a catalyst, identifying Grecian architecture with
economic security. The National style, as it came to be known, became the
universal fashion for public buildings, churches, banks, and town halls.
Greek Revival was the dominant style of domestic architecture
between 1830 and 1850.

Gothic Revival: 1840 - 1880 The George W. Loomis house in Suffield, Connecticut, was built in 1860 as a gift
from father to son. photo: Historic New England
As in previous centuries, Americans of the early nineteenth century
were influenced by the cultural movements of Europe, including the
Picturesque. In 1832 the first example of Gothic Revival architecture in As with the Gothic Revival, the Italianate style began in Europe
the United States was designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis as part of the Picturesque movement, a reaction against the formal
(1803-1892). Americans put their own twist on the Gothic style, using classical ideals in art and architecture that had dominated the previous
details such as pointed arches on light wood-framed construction in a two centuries. It was inspired by the rambling, informal Italian villas of
variation that is known as Carpenter Gothic. northern Italy with their characteristic square towers and asymmetrical,
open floor plans.
26 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles