The American Greek Revival Movement
Since the country's foundation, the architecture of the United States has had a broad range of styles that have made a strong presence in its urban landscape. Through the different ideological preferences and tastes that formed as the country grew, these varied architectural styles increased throughout the land. Hence, Americans were beginning to develop a distinctive architectural palate.
Whether by adopting an aesthetic from its colonial heritage or introducing classical concepts to modernize the country, examples of great architectural styles were making a mark in the U.S. Of these various styles, one that resonated heavily, especially in its impact on public buildings, is Greek Revival architecture.
A Complete Artistic Movement
Greek revival architecture is part of a broader movement of design thinking that encapsulated more than one field in its practice, as it referenced design tenets from antiquity. The Greek Revival architectural style derived from an appreciation of Grecian ideals, and these ideals influenced a complete artistic movement that touched many disciplines. It significantly influenced the creation of architecture, furniture, paintings, and other decorative arts.
European Origins and Scholarly Discovery
This revival of ancient Greek architecture took hold mainly in Europe and North America. In Europe, scholars began to study the works of ancient Greece, as access to the country had increased since. Before the 18th century, wars and political conflict had made a journey to Greece a dangerous endeavor.
The Society of Dilettanti
With time, a society of British noblemen called the Society of Dilettanti funded travel to the Mediterranean to study the archeological findings in the area. Archeologists, architects, and artists took part in this journey. Their findings created some of the first accurate drawings of ancient Greek architecture, especially of the classical orders used to create temples.
As the modern Greece nation opened its doors to travelers and conflict waned, the architecture of ancient Greece would gain significant prominence. The Greek temples, which would house the deities of ancient times, were now looked upon to serve as a reference for new buildings that would become the embodiments of civic virtue and patrimony.
"The main reasons for the style's popularity seem to have been the general intellectual preoccupation with ancient Greek culture at the time, as well as a new awareness of the actual nature of Greek art brought about through widely circulated illustrations of notable ancient temples and the Elgin Marbles. The growing recognition of the Parthenon in Athens as a major monument helped secure the dominance of this Grecian form."
In America, the Grecian movement came at a time of prosperity. As a newly established nation, the U.S. was gaining notoriety and wealth as an autonomous power capable of iterating its unique forms of creating environments, creating an American architectural lexicon.
The subsequent proliferation of American architectural texts, especially pattern books that provided highly detailed Grecian drawings of architectural forms, would propose Grecian architecture as exemplary. The temples and style of ancient Greece became the basis for moving from early American architecture of the past to creating more modernized architecture in the 19th century.
Transition from Colonial Styles
Moving past the Colonial andFederalstyles that had dominated the American urban landscape decades prior, the adoption of the ancient Grecian style would become one of the first design movements to generate critical monumental structures in the young country. Eventually, the acceptance of ideas like democracy and liberty or design concepts like symmetry, harmony, and balance became the standard practice for creating architecture.
The acceptance of Greek architecture would influence many further generations of architects and their designs. Many major examples of the Greek Revival survive in the United States, where the style was adopted on a large scale.
John S. Norris: Master of Greek Revival
A principal actor in the dissemination of the Greek revival in America was architectJohn S. Norris. Norris was one of Savannah, Georgia's most notable architects, who designed many prominent buildings in his era. His implementation of Grecian architecture (and other styles) in one of the original colonies was significant and commendable.
Photo from Wikipedia (Public Domain) - U.S. Custom House (1850) by John S. Norris
Norris's Masterworks in Savannah
United States Customs House
Greek revival masterpiece showcasing Norris's mastery of classical proportions and civic architecture
Andrew Low House
Greek Revival mansion with Italianate details, home to Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low
Mercer-Williams House
Impressive residential example demonstrating Greek Revival principles in domestic architecture
Green-Meldrim House
Gothic Revival masterpiece showing Norris's versatility beyond Greek Revival styles
He created arguably some of the most notable buildings in the city in the antebellum period. In fact, because of Norris's variations in his work, perhaps not all buildings created by Norris are attributed to him, as documentation at the time was not always accurate. Nevertheless, the examples he left behind of his body of work make a testament to his virtuosity and expediency as an architect.
Notable Greek Revival Buildings in Savannah
Aside from Norris's work, there are other great examples of Greek revival architecture in Savannah. These buildings showcase the style's adaptability and enduring appeal in the Southern architectural landscape.
First Baptist Church of Savannah
Completed: 1833 | Chartered: 1800
The church displays the use of the ancient Greek temple façade, representing one of the finest examples of religious Greek Revival architecture in the city.
Harper Fowlkes House & Philbrick-Eastman House
Architect:Charles B. Cluskey
The Harper Fowlkes House presents a west-facing portico supported by Corinthian columns and is furnished with antiques from the mid 19th century. The Philbrick-Eastman House, with notoriety as the "finest home in the city," serves as one of the finest examples of the Greek revival style in the country.
Legacy and Modern Preservation
For over four decades in the 19th century, from the 1820s to 1860s, the principles of Greek architecture dominated architecture in America. In the South, many prominent homes adopted the classical columns of the ancient Greeks, as classical ideals enthralled them.
Democratic Ideals in Stone
Americans accepted the country as an heir of ancient Greece and their fundaments of democracy. The architectural style became a physical manifestation of American democratic ideals, with buildings serving as temples to civic virtue and public service.
In Savannah, a city with arich history of marvelous architectureand notable urban planning, the Greek Revival style is alive and well. Today, these significant works of architecture line the streets of our elegant city, presenting the symbolic attributes of virtue and harmony.