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Was the Gothic revival (within architecture) a success?
I am an architecture student and would like to know why the neo-gothic style died away after around 1900, and if the gothic-revival in the 19th century was successful.
Public Comments
- Perhaps people began to realize that death was a reality and that there was a darker side to existence? Prior to this all art, or mostly, was centered around the church and served to depict a 'reward and punishment'? To me the gothic movement depicts the broadening and deepening of the thinkers and artists of the period.So yes a success indeed
- What makes any art or fashion trend a success? Are you judging it by the length it lasted, the number of buildings designed in that style, or just using the judgment of later art critics, selected because they agree with your opinions? Pick some arbitrary criteria,, quantify it, and then claim your opinion is somehow provable. My opinion? It died out the same way all fashions do, people saw a lot of it, got sick of it, started to snicker over it, and then jumped on whatever the new band wagon was.
- The neo-gothic style was very much a Victorian taste. It fitted well with their perception of the world, which was of course the Empire; therefore buildings reflected the "personality" of the period - grandiose, intimidating, ornate, regal etc. It was a complete change from the more elegant style of architecture of the Georgian period. There was also the Victorian preoccupation with death, to which neo-gothic lent itself admirably. Once Victoria herself had died in 1901, there was a drastic change in not just the architecture but most things ranging from fashion to food, which announced the Edwardian age. Neo-gothic had begun to be seen as "stodgy" and "old hat" by the younger, up-and-coming architects and engineers, as well as quite expensive, and was swiftly abandoned. As regards if the gothic revival was successful depends on your criteria for success. Many of these buildings can still be found around the major cities of the UK, especially London. Prime examples would include the Natural History Museum and the ultimate in neo-gothic architecture the Houses of Parliament (completed 1847).
