George I. Barnett
Encyclopedia
George Ingham Barnett was an architect
from St. Louis, Missouri
. He was called The Dean of St. Louis Architecture for his contributions to the buildings of St. Louis as well as for his influence on other architects in the United States
.
, England
. He completed a classical education by the age of 16, then trained with Sir Thomas Hine
at a builder in Nottingham, and then took on an apprenticeship with an architectural firm in London
. Barnett left England for the United States in early 1839, remaining in New York City
for six months before departing for St. Louis.
, and Gothic
design. Barnett did not deviate from classical designs, and his portfolio was largely responsible for establishing Classicism
as St. Louis' dominate architectural influence. His works included houses, churches, commercial, and civic structures. Among his best known structures are renovations to the Old Courthouse, the Missouri Governor's mansion
, the structures of the Missouri Botanical Garden
, Tower Grove Park
, and the Southern Hotel.
, trained with the elder Barnett and went on to design such American landmarks as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
and the Adolphus Hotel
in Dallas. His other son, George D. Barnett, and his son-in-law, John Ignatius Haynes, joined Tom Barnett to form the architectural firm of Barnett, Haynes & Barnett
. His eldest son, Absalom J. Barnett, became a successful architect in San Fransisco.
Other notable architects who apprenticed under Barnett included Henry G. Isaacs, Alfred H. Piquenard
, Charles F. May, William Kirchner, Isaac Taylor, and George Strafford Mills.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
from St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He was called The Dean of St. Louis Architecture for his contributions to the buildings of St. Louis as well as for his influence on other architects in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life in England
Barnett was born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He completed a classical education by the age of 16, then trained with Sir Thomas Hine
Thomas Chambers Hine
Thomas Chambers Hine 1814 - 1899 was an architect based in Nottingham.He was born in Covent Garden into a prosperous middle class family, the eldest son of a hosiery manufacturer. He was articled to the London architect Matthew Habershorn. In 1837 he arrived in Nottingham and formed a partnership...
at a builder in Nottingham, and then took on an apprenticeship with an architectural firm in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Barnett left England for the United States in early 1839, remaining in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for six months before departing for St. Louis.
Work in St. Louis
Barnett designed hundreds of buildings in St. Louis, many in Greek Revival, ItalianateItalianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
, and Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
design. Barnett did not deviate from classical designs, and his portfolio was largely responsible for establishing Classicism
Classicism
Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for classical antiquity, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. The art of classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained: of the Discobolus Sir Kenneth Clark observed, "if we object to his restraint...
as St. Louis' dominate architectural influence. His works included houses, churches, commercial, and civic structures. Among his best known structures are renovations to the Old Courthouse, the Missouri Governor's mansion
Missouri Governor's Mansion
The Missouri Governor's Mansion is a historic U.S. residence in Jefferson City, Missouri. It is located at 100 Madison Street. On May 21, 1969, it was added to the U.S...
, the structures of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is also known informally as Shaw's Garden for founder Henry Shaw, a botanist and philanthropist.-History:...
, Tower Grove Park
Tower Grove Park
Tower Grove Park is a municipal park in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its land was donated to the city by Henry Shaw in 1868. It is on 289 acres adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden, another of Shaw’s legacies. It extends 1.6 miles from west to east, between Kingshighway...
, and the Southern Hotel.
Influence on other architects
Barnett's son, Thomas P. BarnettThomas P. Barnett
Thomas P. Barnett , also known professionally as Tom Barnett and Tom P. Barnett, was an American architect and painter from St. Louis, Missouri. Barnett was nationally recognized for both his work in architecture and in painting.-Architectural work:Barnett trained under his father, St. Louis...
, trained with the elder Barnett and went on to design such American landmarks as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, also known as the Saint Louis Cathedral or the New Cathedral, was completed in 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri, as the archdiocesan replacement for the Cathedral of St. Louis, King of France...
and the Adolphus Hotel
Adolphus Hotel
The Hotel Adolphus is an upscale hotel and Dallas Landmark in the Main Street District of downtown Dallas, Texas which was for several years the tallest building in the state of Texas.- History :...
in Dallas. His other son, George D. Barnett, and his son-in-law, John Ignatius Haynes, joined Tom Barnett to form the architectural firm of Barnett, Haynes & Barnett
Barnett, Haynes & Barnett
Barnett, Haynes & Barnett was a prominent architectural firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. Their credits include many familiar St. Louis landmarks, especially a number related to the local Catholic church. Their best-known building is probably the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis . A number of...
. His eldest son, Absalom J. Barnett, became a successful architect in San Fransisco.
Other notable architects who apprenticed under Barnett included Henry G. Isaacs, Alfred H. Piquenard
Alfred H. Piquenard
Alfred H. Piquenard was an American architect. Born in France, he studied at Paris' Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures before emigrating to the United States as part of the Icarian movement. After leaving the Icarians, he began work as an architect. He apprenticed with George I. Barnett in...
, Charles F. May, William Kirchner, Isaac Taylor, and George Strafford Mills.