|
|
|
|
Second Empire
|
| |
|
| |
- For France 1852–70, see Second French Empire.
- For Mexico 1864–67, see Second Mexican Empire.
- For Germany 1871–1918 ("Second Reich"), see German Empire.
Second Empire is an architectural style that was popular during the Victorian era, reaching its zenith between 1865 and 1880, and so named for the "French" elements in vogue during the era of the Second French Empire.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Second Empire' Start a new discussion about 'Second Empire' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
- For France 1852–70, see Second French Empire.
- For Mexico 1864–67, see Second Mexican Empire.
- For Germany 1871–1918 ("Second Reich"), see German Empire.
Second Empire is an architectural style that was popular during the Victorian era, reaching its zenith between 1865 and 1880, and so named for the "French" elements in vogue during the era of the Second French Empire. In France, a significant variation is sometimes called the Napoleon III style. While a distinct style unto itself, some Second Empire styling cues, such as quoins, have an indirect relationship to the styles previously in vogue, Gothic Revival and Italianate eras.
In the United States, the Second Empire style usually combined a rectangular tower, or similar element, with a steep, but short, mansard roof; the roof being the most noteworthy link to the style’s French roots. This tower element could be of equal height as the highest floor, or could exceed the height of the rest of the structure by a storey or two. The mansard roof crest was often topped with an iron trim, sometimes referred to as “cresting”. In some cases, lightning rods were integrated into the cresting design, making the feature useful beyond its decorative features. The exterior style could be expressed in either wood, brick or stone. More elaborate examples frequently featured paired columns as well as sculpted details around the doors, windows and dormers. The purpose of the ornamentation was to make the structure appear imposing, grand and expensive.
Floor plans for Second Empire residences could either be symmetrical, with the tower (or tower-like element) in the center, or asymmetrical, with the tower or tower-like element to one side.
The style also found its way into commercial structures, and was often used when designing state institutions. Several psychiatric hospitals proved the style's adaptability to their size and functions. Prior to the construction of The Pentagon in the 1940s, the Second Empire–style Ohio State Asylum for the Insane in Columbus, Ohio was reported to be the largest building under one roof in the U.S., though the title may actually belong to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, another Kirkbride Second Empire asylum.
Second Empire was succeeded by the Queen Anne Style era, and its sub-styles, which enjoyed great popularity until the rise of the “Revival Era” in American architecture just before the end of the 19th century.
Leland M. Roth [see references] refers to the style as "Second Empire Baroque." Mullett-Smith [see references] calls it the "Second Empire or General Grant style" due to its popularity in building government buildings during the Grant administration.
The architect H.H. Richardson designed several of his early residences in the style, "evidence [Ochsner, see references] of his French schooling." These projects include the Crowninshield House, Boston Massachusetts, 1868, the H.H. Richardson House, Staten Island, New York, 1868 and the Dorsheimer House, Buffalo, New York, 1868.
In regard to the use of the Second Empire style for residences, the McAlesters [see references] divided the style into five subtypes:
- Simple mansard roof – about 20 %
- Centered wing or gable
- Asymmetrical – about 20 %
- Towered – about 30 %
- Town house
Notable Second Empire buildings
Canada
In Canada, Second Empire became the choice of the new Dominion government in the 1870’s and 1880’s for numerous public buildings and the provinces followed suit.
- Parliament Building (Quebec), Quebec City, Quebec, 1886, Eugène-Étienne Taché, architect
- Montreal City Hall (original design, prior to 1922 fire), 1878, Henri-Maurice Perrault and Alexander Cowper Hutchison, architects
- Saint John City Market, 1876, McKean and Fairweather, architects
- Government House, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1883
- Langevin Block, Ottawa, Ontario, 1889, Thomas Fuller, Chief Dominion Architect
- Windsor Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, 1878
- MacKenzie Building at the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, 1878, Robert Gage, architect
United States
- Baltimore City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland. Built 1869-1871
- George W. Fulton Mansion, Rockport, Texas, 1877
- Alexander Ramsey House, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1868, Sheire and Summers, architects
- Old City Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, 1862-1865, Bryant and Gilman, architects
- New York City Courthouse and Post Office, 1869–1875, Alfred B. Mullett, architect
- Philadelphia City Hall 1871–1881, John McArthur Jr., architect
- State, War and Navy Building, formerly called the Old Executive Office Building, now called the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, 1871–1887, Alfred B. Mullett, architect, Washington D.C.
- the "Old Post Office", 1873–1884, Alfred B. Mullett, architect, St. Louis, Missouri
- 2300 block, Chapline Street, Wheeling West Virginia
- Hamilton Mansion, 1873, 330 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA, JD Hall Architect
- Mis Laura's (River Front Hotel) Bordello, 1898, originally at 123 North First Street but moved to 2 North B Street, Fort Smith, AR, National Register of Historic Places, added 1973 - Building - #73000391
- South Hall, University of California, Berkeley, David Farquharson, architect
- Terrace Hill, 1866-1869. State of Iowa governor's residence, Des Moines, Iowa.
- Harker Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Nathan Clifford Ricker, architect – oldest building on campus (built in 1878)
- St. Ignatius College Prep, Chicago, Illinois (built in 1869)
- Illinois State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois (Built 1869 to 1889)
Australia
*Melbourne GPO, 1859–1907. Melbourne, Australia. A.E Johnson architect
- Princess Theatre, 1866. Melbourne, Australia. William Pitt, architect.
- Sydney Town Hall 1869–89. Sydney, Australia.
- Chief Secretary’s Building 1890–95. Sydney, Australia. James Barnet, dome added by Vernon
- Parliament House. 1868. Brisbane, Australia
- Royal Exhibition Building, 1880. Melbourne, Australia. Joseph Reed, architect.
- South Melbourne Town Hall, 1879–80. Melbourne, Australia. Charles Webb
- Hotel Windsor, 1883. Melbourne, Australia. Charles Webb
- Collingwood Town Hall, 1885. Melbourne, Australia. George R Johnson architect
- Former Records Office, 1900. Melbourne, Australia. S.E. Brindley architect
- Shamrock Hotel, 1888. Bendigo, Australia.
- Bendigo Court House, 1892. Bendigo, Australia.
- Bendigo Town Hall, 1859. Bendigo, Australia
- Willsmere, former Lunatic Asylym, Kew, Victoria
Portugal
- Estação de Porto S. Bento 1916. Porto, Portugal
Images
|
| |
|
|
