ePub American Country Houses of the Gilded Age: (Sheldon's "Artistic Country-Seats") (Dover Architecture) by A. Lewis in Arts-Photography

Description

The "Gilded Age;" the three decades following the Civil War; were years of astounding economic growth. Vast empires in oil; shipping; mining; banking; lumber; transportation; and related industries were formed. It was an era in which fortunes were made and lost quickly; almost easily; a period that encouraged ― nearly demanded ― the public display of this newly acquired wealth; power; and prestige. It was during these heady; turbulent years that a new type of domestic architecture first appeared on the American landscape. Called the "country seat" or "cottage;" these houses were grandiose in scale ― imposing facades complemented by manicured gardens; with exceptionally large and impressive reception rooms; halls; parlors; dining rooms; and other public areas. Intended exclusively for the very well-to-do; these buildings were designed by some of the finest and most influential architectural firms in America: McKim; Mead & White; Bruce Price; Peabody & Stearns; Theophilus P. Chandler; Jr.; Lamb & Rich; Wilcox & Johnston; and many others. The first; best; and most exquisite documentation of this surge of architectural creativity was the 1886–87 publication of George William Sheldons Artistic Country-Seats: Types of Recent American Villa and Cottage Architecture with Instances of Country-Club Houses. It presented exceedingly fine photographs; clearly detailed plans and elevations; as well as Sheldons own commentary for a total of 97 buildings (93 houses and 4 casinos). Most structures were located in new England and the Middle Atlantic states; and embraced the full spectrum of architectural and artistic expressions. This present volume reproduces all of Sheldons fascinating and historically important photographs and plans; and adds a new; thoroughly accurate text by Arnold Lewis (Professor of Art; the College of Wooster; Wooster; Ohio) that includes the most useful information supplied by Sheldon and also reports on the present condition of each house or casino; providing analyses of elevations and plans; observations about family life in the 1880s; and brief biographical comments about the clients and architects. Sheldons photographs connect us with a time and style of living that today increasingly seem more the realm of fiction than fact. Yet; in the pages of this important collection; they are brought fresh to life as they appeared when they were new and times were very different.