The French Academic The French Academic TraditionTradition

Context Post RenaissanceContext Post Renaissance

Baroque Era - beginning 1600 A.D.Baroque Era - beginning 1600 A.D.Neo Classicism / 1750 – 1900Neo Classicism / 1750 – 1900French Academic TraditionFrench Academic Tradition Decline of NeoclassicismDecline of NeoclassicismNineteenth Century ConceptsNineteenth Century ConceptsGothic Revival - Structural Gothic Revival - Structural

RationalismRationalismThe industrial revolutionThe industrial revolution

BaroqueBaroque

The Architects of the Baroque Era The Architects of the Baroque Era were intent on extending the horizon were intent on extending the horizon of their sources of inspiration beyond of their sources of inspiration beyond the Classical, and sought artistic the Classical, and sought artistic freedom.freedom.

new emphasis was placed on bold new emphasis was placed on bold massing, colonnades, domes, light-massing, colonnades, domes, light-and-shade (and-shade (chiaroscurochiaroscuro), 'painterly' ), 'painterly' color effects, and the bold play of color effects, and the bold play of volume and void. volume and void.

Francois Mansart's Chateau de Francois Mansart's Chateau de Maisons.Maisons.

As an assault on orthodox As an assault on orthodox Renaissance conventions, Baroque Renaissance conventions, Baroque Architecture also tended toward what Architecture also tended toward what was in many respects a stricter was in many respects a stricter geometrical and scientific geometrical and scientific determinism - experimentation with determinism - experimentation with form and a greater emphasis on a form and a greater emphasis on a geometric approach to design.geometric approach to design.

Church of St.Mary, VeniceChurch of St.Mary, Venice

Salzburg Salzburg CathedralCathedral

Louvre Louvre ExtensionExtension

Typical Baroque ExteriorTypical Baroque Exterior

Neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture and the influence of and the influence of

antiquityantiquity In architecture, neoclassicism was the In architecture, neoclassicism was the

dominant style in Europe during 1750s-dominant style in Europe during 1750s-1850s, marked by the imitation of Greco-1850s, marked by the imitation of Greco-Roman forms. Classical architectural Roman forms. Classical architectural models were adapted or referenced in a models were adapted or referenced in a range of architectural forms, including range of architectural forms, including churches, arches, temple, house, terraces, churches, arches, temple, house, terraces, garden monuments and interior designs. garden monuments and interior designs. Later, Neoclassical architecture became an Later, Neoclassical architecture became an international style, each country held international style, each country held some distinct characteristic in their style.some distinct characteristic in their style.

Petit TrianonPetit Trianon

Circus at BathCircus at Bath

Altes Museum, Altes Museum, BerlinBerlin

Neoclassical, or "new" classical, Neoclassical, or "new" classical, architecture describes buildings that are architecture describes buildings that are inspired by the classical architecture of inspired by the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. ancient Greece and Rome.

The over-elaboration of architectural The over-elaboration of architectural language in the Baroque era led to the language in the Baroque era led to the search by architects for a true style through search by architects for a true style through a precise re-appraisal of Classical Design a precise re-appraisal of Classical Design Tenets. Their motivation was not simply to Tenets. Their motivation was not simply to copy the ancients but to obey the principles copy the ancients but to obey the principles on which their work had been based.on which their work had been based.

Ancient Greek Architecture was Ancient Greek Architecture was studied and emulated in terms of the studied and emulated in terms of the qualities like Harmony, Proportion, qualities like Harmony, Proportion, Rationality, Balance, etc.Rationality, Balance, etc.

This was more than a revival, it was This was more than a revival, it was an argument for a return to rational an argument for a return to rational structural principles and their structural principles and their expression in buildingsexpression in buildings

many of the first generation of neoclassical architects many of the first generation of neoclassical architects received training in the classic French tradition through received training in the classic French tradition through a series of exhaustive and practical lectures that was a series of exhaustive and practical lectures that was offered for decades by Jacques-François Blondel offered for decades by Jacques-François Blondel

Zwinger Palace in Dresden Zwinger Palace in Dresden

Neo Classicism / Palladianism Neo Classicism / Palladianism Last phase of the Renaissance, when Ancient Greek Last phase of the Renaissance, when Ancient Greek

Architecture was studied and emulated in terms of the Architecture was studied and emulated in terms of the qualities like Harmony, Proportion, Rationality, Balance, qualities like Harmony, Proportion, Rationality, Balance, etc.etc.

The architecture of Neo-Classicism emerged out of two The architecture of Neo-Classicism emerged out of two different but related developments which radically different but related developments which radically transformed the relationship between man and nature. transformed the relationship between man and nature. A sudden increase in man’s capacity to control nature due to A sudden increase in man’s capacity to control nature due to

technical advances of the Industrial Revolutiontechnical advances of the Industrial Revolution A fundamental shift in the nature of human consciousness, in A fundamental shift in the nature of human consciousness, in

response to major changes taking place in society, resulting in response to major changes taking place in society, resulting in a new cultural formation that was equally appropriate to the life a new cultural formation that was equally appropriate to the life styles of the declining aristocracy and the rising bourgeoisie.styles of the declining aristocracy and the rising bourgeoisie.

Neo Classicism was more than a revival; it was an Neo Classicism was more than a revival; it was an argument for a return to rational structural principles argument for a return to rational structural principles and their expression in buildingsand their expression in buildings

Fanueil HallFanueil Hall

The Capitol, WashingtonD.CThe Capitol, WashingtonD.C..

American American ExamplesExamples

Low Library, New YorkLow Library, New York

Massachusetts State HouseMassachusetts State House

Mount Vernon, VirginiaMount Vernon, Virginia

French Academic French Academic TraditionTradition

Chiefly articulated by Chiefly articulated by Jacques Francois BlondelJacques Francois Blondel Claude PerraultClaude Perrault The founding of the Royal Academy of The founding of the Royal Academy of

Architecture in Paris in 1671 can be taken Architecture in Paris in 1671 can be taken as the starting point of modern European as the starting point of modern European theory and practice. The purpose of the theory and practice. The purpose of the Academy was to codify the principles of Academy was to codify the principles of Classical Design and to espouse them in Classical Design and to espouse them in practice.practice.

Symbolically, the new academy Symbolically, the new academy represented, in line with the political and represented, in line with the political and cultural ascendancy of France, a declaration cultural ascendancy of France, a declaration of independence from the Renaissance of independence from the Renaissance tradition. tradition.

Jacques-François Jacques-François BlondelBlondel

Claude PerraultClaude Perrault

Jean Baptiste Rondelet

Jean Nicolas Louis Durand

In response to the perceived In response to the perceived architectural excesses of the baroque architectural excesses of the baroque period, the academy’s foundation period, the academy’s foundation reflected the tendency to provide a reflected the tendency to provide a nationally sanctioned forum for the nationally sanctioned forum for the consolidation and rational consolidation and rational reinterpretation of traditional reinterpretation of traditional conventions. conventions.

The question of whether contemporary The question of whether contemporary culture could match or even exceed culture could match or even exceed classical accomplishments led to the re-classical accomplishments led to the re-evaluation of Vitruvius and Renaissance evaluation of Vitruvius and Renaissance theory.theory.

French Academic TheoryFrench Academic Theory The theoretical developments that attended the The theoretical developments that attended the

emergence of Neo-Classicism in France were chiefly emergence of Neo-Classicism in France were chiefly articulated by Perrault & Blondel.articulated by Perrault & Blondel.

Claude Perrault questioned the validity of the Claude Perrault questioned the validity of the Classical Vitruvian proportions to his time. Classical Vitruvian proportions to his time.

Instead, he elaborated his thesis of positive beauty Instead, he elaborated his thesis of positive beauty and arbitrary beauty, giving to the former the and arbitrary beauty, giving to the former the normative role of standardization and perfection normative role of standardization and perfection and to the latter such expressive function as may be and to the latter such expressive function as may be required by a particular circumstance or character.required by a particular circumstance or character.

Jacques – Francois Blondel, after opening his Jacques – Francois Blondel, after opening his architectural school in Rue de la Harpe in 1743 architectural school in Rue de la Harpe in 1743 became the master of a ‘visionary’ generation of became the master of a ‘visionary’ generation of architectsarchitects

Blondel’s preoccupation was an appropriate Blondel’s preoccupation was an appropriate physiognomy to accord with the varying social physiognomy to accord with the varying social character of different building types.character of different building types.

Jean Baptiste RondeletJean Baptiste Rondelet French theory took a new direction in the French theory took a new direction in the

nineteenth century when Jean Baptiste nineteenth century when Jean Baptiste Rondelet, famed for saving the collapsing Rondelet, famed for saving the collapsing church of Ste. Genevieve in Paris (now the church of Ste. Genevieve in Paris (now the Pantheon) published his volume ‘Traite Pantheon) published his volume ‘Traite theorique et pratique de l’art de batir’, a work theorique et pratique de l’art de batir’, a work that is remarkable simply because it contains that is remarkable simply because it contains almost no theoretical discussion.almost no theoretical discussion.

Rondelet was one of the first modern architects Rondelet was one of the first modern architects to argue that the art of building should emulate to argue that the art of building should emulate the science of engineering, that was based on the science of engineering, that was based on the principles of mathematics and physics.the principles of mathematics and physics.

Jean Nicolas Louis DurandJean Nicolas Louis Durand Jean Nicolas Louis Durand taught a course Jean Nicolas Louis Durand taught a course

on architecture at the Ecole Polytechnique on architecture at the Ecole Polytechnique which was without academic precedent. which was without academic precedent. The classical Orders, he argued, were not The classical Orders, he argued, were not the essence of architecture; rules for the essence of architecture; rules for proportion should be derived from the proportion should be derived from the nature of the material and its use. nature of the material and its use. Convenience, rather than beauty, was the Convenience, rather than beauty, was the reason for making architecture, thus the reason for making architecture, thus the architect had two problems to solve : how to architect had two problems to solve : how to design and build a private building with the design and build a private building with the greatest convenience within a given budget; greatest convenience within a given budget; and how to design and build a public edifice and how to design and build a public edifice with the greatest possible economy.with the greatest possible economy.

Durand sought to establish a universal Durand sought to establish a universal building method by the application of a building method by the application of a normative building typology with which normative building typology with which economic and appropriate structures could economic and appropriate structures could be created through the modular be created through the modular permutation of fixed plan types and permutation of fixed plan types and alternative elevations- an interchangeable alternative elevations- an interchangeable typology of compositional parts that could typology of compositional parts that could be assembled or organized in various be assembled or organized in various combinations.combinations.

Durand’s compositional methodology Durand’s compositional methodology proved to be enormously influential proved to be enormously influential throughout Europe, especially in Germany. throughout Europe, especially in Germany. Economic factors, such as the injunction Economic factors, such as the injunction that maximum floor area be obtained with that maximum floor area be obtained with minimum perimeter construction, became minimum perimeter construction, became the overriding criteria of design.the overriding criteria of design.

Decline of NeoclassicismDecline of Neoclassicism

During the second half of the 18th century During the second half of the 18th century the the interaction of a number of a number the the interaction of a number of a number of unprecedented technical developments of unprecedented technical developments and socio-economic forces gave rise to a new and socio-economic forces gave rise to a new context. In the space of a century the finite context. In the space of a century the finite city was totally transformed.city was totally transformed.The rapid decline of Neoclassicism was due to The rapid decline of Neoclassicism was due to a progressive functionalism propelled by a progressive functionalism propelled by technological developments of fireproof technological developments of fireproof construction, gas lighting, central heat and construction, gas lighting, central heat and ventilation, and exposed cast-iron structure. ventilation, and exposed cast-iron structure.