Revivalism in Ninteenth Century America

Revivalism in nineteenth century America was primarily driven by the establishment of churches with the separation of styles denoting religious denominations. In part to the nineteenth century picturesque movement, the gothic revival style soon became a movement of nationalism. Best known for his gothic revival churches, Richard Upjohn quickly became a leader in the picturesque style; particularly seen in his most notable work, the Trinity Church in New York City. Similarly, H.H. Richardson applied his own style toward his Trinity Church located in Boston.

Upjohn and Richardson were both influenced by the architectural styles that originated before them. These styles laid the foundation for their design aesthetics; as well as reasoning, making them influential in religious communities throughout the architectural scene that was taking place in the United States at the time. Upjohn’s essays dealing with the Romanesque style was part of the movement which primed the way for Richardson. Bold and generously serene, his villa-house designs were a premature struggle for functional expression in picturesque; further contributing to the development of, both, H.H. Richardson and Louis Sullivan. Upjohn possessed many of the aspects which were unified by Richardson and further developed in many of the first modernism works.

Upjohn's influence for his Trinity Church design came from the Ecclesiological movement, which supported "authentic" medieval forms. His work incorporated many of the Ecclesiological principles concerning church form, plan, and orientation; which included: emphasis on the chancel and altar; utilization of natural and honest materials; and a general approach to the spirit of medieval English churches. During his work o...

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...se History of American Architecture (Westview Press, 1979), 164-165.

William H. Pierson, Jr., American Buildings and Their Architects: Technology and the Picturesque, (Doubleday & Company, Inc.), 295.

William H. Pierson, Jr., American Buildings and Their Architects: Technology and the Picturesque, (Doubleday & Company, Inc.), 167.

Leland M. Roth, A Concise History of American Architecture (Westview Press, 1979), 164-165.

William H. Pierson, Jr., American Buildings and Their Architects: Technology and the Picturesque, (Doubleday & Company, Inc.), 295.

William H. Pierson, Jr., American Buildings and Their Architects: Technology and the Picturesque, (Doubleday & Company, Inc.), 167.

CBS Boston. "Boston’s Best Buildings Or Works Of Architecture « CBS Boston." Accessed March 13, 2014. http://boston.cbslocal.com/top-lists/bostons-best-buildings-or-works-of-architecture/.