GREEK REVIVAL, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

GREEK REVIVAL IN ARCHITECTURE

Considered to the be the last phase of the Neo-classical movement, the Greek Revival period ranges from the mid-eighteenth century through the mid-nineteenth century. It was inspired by the rediscovery of ancient Greek architecture following the decline of Ottoman influence. The archaeological survey and subsequent book, The Antiquities of Athens, by English architects and explorers, James Stuart and Nicholas Revett, introduced ancient Greek forms into a neo-classicism that had previously been dominated by Rome and the Italian Renaissance. The Greek Revival Style manifested itself in different ways in different geographic locations, but coincided with the emergence of the American Republic.

ASHER BENJAMIN, MINARD LAFEVER, CARL F. SCHMIDT

One area where a distinct and uniquely American variant of Greek Revival buildings were constructed was in Upstate and Western New York. Inspired by builder's manuals and treatises by Benjamin and Lafever, these buildings attracted the attention in the 1940's of Rochester architect, Carl F. Schmidt. Schmidt documented houses in and around Rochester and published his work in limited editions. Mouldings One has transcribed some of his drawings and made them accessible to a larger public.