World Pictures of the East as One of the Sources of Transition from Classicism to Historicism in Architecture

Abstract

This article presents the architectural views of Hodges, the English artist and traveler (1744-1797) and their influence on aesthetic visions of Schelling, the founder of German romanticism. Schelling considered architecture of the transition period from classicism to historicism and eclecticism. It is shown that Hodges' vision of the oriental architecture was romanticized. He refused from the recognition of ancient Greek architecture as the only true measure of taste, and asserted the importance of climatic characteristics and national culture. Along with the ancient Greek architecture, Hodges emphasized the high artistic value of Egyptian, Indian, Moorish, and Gothic architecture. In accordance with romantic philosophy to unite the opposites of objective and subjective and recognizing the importance of the different styles of architecture, Hodges stated their essential unity, which had natural origins. Hodges’ ideas anticipated the trends of development of postclassical architecture.