American Neoclassicism

The Federal Period

1780 – 1830(started 20 years after England)

The Lack of a Profession

• no architectural profession• no large scale projects

– residence of small scale public

• constructed by builders, craftsmen, bricklayers or amateur architects– pattern books

Charles Bulfinch

• Boston politician & gentleman • amateur architect• failed investment

– had to practice to survive

Harrison Gray Otis

Boston, 1790s, by Charles Bulfinch(very clear relationship to English Neoclassicism)

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•clearly responding to Neoclassicism•delicate ornamentation

1—tablets—inspired by Robert Adam2—palladian window3—fanlight—invented by Adam—attached to the front door4—sidelights

lunettelunette

•tripartite construction•string courses

•central hall•double pile

Parlor

• symmetry• citron/aquamarine• Adamesque drapes—swag

with double jabot• wallpaper frieze

• classical arrangement• allover or fitted carpet• pier table—looks like mirror is

attached/one piece because mirror goes below table

•historically preserved space •American furniture is more simple than England•fireplace anchors the room—almost exact replica of Adam’s work

Thomas Jefferson: Politician• member of Virginia House of Burgesses, 1769-

74 • member of Continental Congress, 1775-76 • Governor of Virginia, 1779-81 • member of Continental Congress, 1783-85 • Minister to France, 1785-89 • Secretary of State, 1790-93 (under

Washington) • Vice President, 1797-1801 (under J. Adams) • President, 1802

Thomas Jefferson: Politician• wanted a unique architectural

expression for America• anti-British

Thomas Jefferson: Scientist• scientist / inventor • farmer

– believed that everything good about America came from its land

– makes a concentrated effort to connect outside with inside

• father was a surveyor

Monticello

Charlottesville, VA, by Thomas Jefferson, 1772-1812

trying to create an “American” interpretation

                                    

full-scale laboratory for building and testing design ideas

Villa Pisani by Palladiorelied not on

pattern books, but Palladio’s

Quatro Libre

Hotel De Salm

inspired while in France—felt it looked original

•cruciform shape added a lot of windows— connection to outside•four stories—basement, main 1st,main 2nd, rotunda

second floor

first floor

conflict of window and balustrade

garden façade (personal)—shows much garden façade (personal)—shows much more of the inventormore of the inventor

Chinese Chippendale

like Hadrian’s cryptoporticus—so slaves were not visible to

guests

invention so you saw only one slave

garden frontgarden front

public facepublic face

garden face—showing the scientist/inventor

Public/Front Façade—sense of refinement and simplicity

weather vane—indication of

scientist

double faced clock—one mechanism

compass compass indicator from indicator from weather vaneweather vane

version of the Doric version of the Doric order—connection order—connection

to Greece, the to Greece, the original democracyoriginal democracy

Entry Hall: The First American MuseumEntry Hall: The First American Museum•busts of politicians•specimen of the American landscape•simple furniture—slave made; trade skill when freed

triple sash window—easy connection to

outdoors

triple sash window—easy connection to

outdoors

eagle & starseagle & stars—popular —popular

motifsmotifs

most floors a simple

herringbone pattern

interpretation of the

Versailles floor pattern

Parlor

collector of art—mostly portraits

Parlor

triadic color scheme

musicianmusician

back doors of parlorback doors of parlor

Dining Room

fireplace most likely took this design from a pattern book—customary tablet that imitates jasperware

Breakfast/ Tea room—half-octagonal addition to dining room

•two sets of doors to create an air pocket

•these open for when both sets of doors are closed

Tea Room

gained a 180 degree view

Bedroom & the Venturi Effect

alcove bed (French influence) to create a draft

•morphed writing desk and chaise lounge

•candles built into chair

•invention creates two copies at once

to light closet

skylight

library had over 10,000 volumes—

largest private collection

bed

•design attributed to Jefferson

•holds five books at once

•allows reader to rotate stand

•unfolds as step ladder

revolving five-sided book stand

American motifs

American Cow Skull, Roman Urn, Hatchet, French Medallion

exploration of exploration of vertical circulationvertical circulation

building drum rotunda takes skills that

Americans don’t yet have