Well, let me tell ya, these fancy words like “classical revival” and “neo-gothic,” they just mean folks way back when liked to build things that looked either old-timey Greek and Roman or spooky church-like. This all happened a long, long time ago, in them 1700s and 1800s, what they call the 18th and 19th centuries.
What’s this “Classical Revival” thing anyway?
See, some folks, they thought them old Greeks and Romans, they really knew their stuff. So, they started buildin’ stuff with big columns and triangles on top, you know, like them pictures you see in history books. Everything was all straight and proper, real tidy-like. They called it “classical revival” ’cause they was bringin’ back them old classic styles. They liked things plain and simple, not too much fuss.
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Big columns everywhere.
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Triangle shapes on top, they call ’em pediments.
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Everything’s symmetrical, like if you fold it in half, it’s the same on both sides.
And then there’s this “Neo-Gothic” stuff, what’s that all about?
Now, other folks, they got tired of that straight and narrow stuff. They wanted something a bit more… well, spooky, I guess. They looked way back to the middle ages, to them big ol’ churches with pointy arches and tall towers. That’s what they called “neo-gothic”. “Neo” just means new, so it’s like new old-churchy style.
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Pointy arches everywhere, like they reachin’ for the sky.
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Lots of tall, skinny towers, sometimes with them gargoyles grinnin’ down at ya.
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Stained glass windows, all colorful and pretty, tellin’ stories.
Why did they like these old styles so much?
Well, I reckon folks just get tired of the same old thing. One minute they like it plain and simple, next minute they want it all fancy and spooky. Plus, back in them days, they didn’t have TVs or nothin’, so they had to find somethin’ to do, I guess. Buildin’ stuff was somethin’ to do, and they figured if them old timers did it, it must be good.
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England started it all, or so they say…
Now, they say this whole “Gothic Revival” thing, it started in England. Them English folks, they got real tired of the plain stuff and wanted to bring back the old churches. They thought the old days was better, more honest and hard-working, unlike the fancy folks with their rules and regulations. They felt like them old ways tied them to somethin’ stronger, somethin’ real. And if the English folks did it, well, everybody else wanted to do it too. Especially their colonies, you know, them places they took over. They figured buildin’ them big churches would show everybody who’s boss.
So, these two styles, they were like night and day, huh?
Yep, totally different. One was all about rules and bein’ proper, the other was all about reachin’ for the heavens and maybe scarin’ ya a little. But both of ‘em was popular back then, in them 1700s and 1800s. Folks just had different tastes, I guess. Some liked the clean lines, some liked the spooky towers. It’s like folks today, some like plain vanilla ice cream, some like rocky road. Just different ways of lookin’ at things.
But it wasn’t just buildin’s, was it?
No siree, it wasn’t just buildin’s. This “neo-gothic” thing, it went into all sorts of stuff. They started makin’ furniture all churchy-lookin’, and books, and even clothes! It was like they wanted everything to look like it came out of a spooky old castle. Them smart folks, they call that “artifacts” and “scholarly” stuff, but to me, it’s just folks makin’ things look old-timey.
And what about them colonies, you mentioned colonies…
Oh, them colonies. Them English rulers, they figured them big ol’ Gothic churches was just the ticket for showin’ them colonies who was in charge. Big and strong, just like the Empire, they wanted folks to know that the English ways were best. And what better way to show it than with a great big church that looks like it could stand forever. They thought them buildings would make folks think, “Wow, them English, they must be somethin’ special.” It was all about showin’ off, you see. Just like a peacock spreadin’ its tail feathers.
So, there you have it, a little bit about them “classical revival” and “neo-gothic” styles. Just remember, one’s all straight and proper, the other’s all pointy and spooky. And both of ‘em was popular a long, long time ago.
Tags：Classical Revival, Neo-Gothic, Architecture, 18th Century, 19th Century, English Culture, Design, Styles, History
