| Amidst growing patriotism and a decreasing dependency on England,
a new architectural movement called the Greek Revival emerged in America.
It was embraced by influential pattern book authors Asher Benjamin
and Minard Lafever, architects of the early 1800s and contemporaries
of Charles Bullfinch. Benjamin was one of our earliest and most famous
architects. Best known for his pattern books, Benjamin’s writings
and engravings were popular and widely distributed in the Northeast
from 1810 to the mid 1830s.
Inspired by the democratic ideals of Greek culture and using the
Parthenon as a model, architecture of this period reflected ideals
of symmetry and balance. Increasing interest in decorative moldings
resulted in subtle details being added to the home’s windows,
doors, mantels and staircases in addition to traditional room moldings.
The molding profiles of this Style maintain the elliptical lines
of Greek architecture, giving them a subtle shadow line and refined
look. |
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