Blog II: Research Statement and Annotated Bibliography

I would like to conduct research in the field of the neoclassical design movement specifically with reference to the symbolism found in neoclassical architecture and design.

The following are possible sources appropriate for this research.

1. Book

Parissien, S. (2000). Palladian Style. London: Phaidon

This book explores the origins of Palladian style during the 18th Century through to Palladian revival in the 19th and 20 Centuries. This book focuses on architectural details and motifs found in Palladian structures. Palladian style is derivative of the the classical Greco-Roman architecture and is thus relevant to my research.

2. Scholarly Journal Article

Levine, J. M. (2002). Why Neoclassicism? Politics and Culture in Eighteenth-Century England. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, 25 (1), 75–101. doi: 10.1111/j.1754-0208.2002.tb00245.x

This journal article is very useful and relative to my research topic as it outlines why designers, architects, artists and the general public were so interested in this style. It discusses the 18th century reasoning behind the rise of neoclassicism with reference to Greco-Roman history and the symbolism these rich cultures offered at the time.

3. Edited Book

Millon, H. A. and Nochlin, L. (Eds.). (1978). Art and architecture in the service of politics. Cambridge: MIT Press

The contents of this book range from political architecture from the Constantinian times through to modern times in the 20th Century. This book is suitable for this research topic as it shows the links between neoclassical architecture and its political significance it held within the neoclassical movement.

4. Website

National Gallery of Art. (2012). 18th and 19th Century France - Neoclassicism [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg56/gg56-over1.html

This webpage belongs to the National Gallery of Art of the United States of America and this specific webpage outlines the precursor of the neoclassic movement. It suggests the symbolic relationship between the French Revolution and neoclassicism and would be useful in the research topic that I have chosen.

5. Image

Voronikhin, A. N., Scheibe, C., Naschon, I., Focht, C. and Schaschin, S. (1803)

New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2000). Settee [Image], Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2007.368

This image is a very appropriate source for this research topic as it is a photo of a settee made in 1803 in the neoclassical style. It was made for the bedroom of Czar Alexander I of Russia and clearly has an aura of elegance and stateliness typically associated with the neoclassical movement.