Style in the Technical and Tectonic Arts, Or, Practical AestheticsThe enduring influence of the architect Gottfried Semper (1803-1879) derives primarily from his monumental theoretical foray Der Stil in der technischen und tektonischen Künsten (1860-62), here translated into English for the first time. A richly illustrated survey of the technical arts (textiles, ceramics, carpentry, masonry), Semper's analysis of the preconditions of style forever changed the interpretative context for aesthetics, architecture, and art history. Style, Semper believed, should be governed by historical function, cultural affinities, creative free will, and the innate properties of each medium. Thus, in an ambitious attempt to turn nineteenth-century artistic discussion away from historicism, aestheticism, and materialism, Semper developed in Der Stil a complex picture of stylistic change based on scrutiny of specific objects and a remarkable grasp of cultural variety. Harry Francis Mallgrave's introductory essay offers an account of Semper's life and work, a survey of Der Stil, and a fresh consideration of Semper's landmark study and its lasting significance. |
Contents
A Handbook for Technicians Artists and Friends of the Arts | 1 |
Part One Technical Origin of the Most Important Forms Types and Symbols in Architecture | 69 |
Prolegomena | 71 |
Considered in Itself and in Relation to Architecture | 102 |
Chapter 1 Introduction | 103 |
Chapter 2 Classification of the Technical Arts | 109 |
A GeneralFormal | 113 |
B TechnicalHistorical | 167 |
A GeneralFormal | 623 |
B TechnicalHistorical | 651 |
A AestheticFormal | 725 |
B TechnicalHistorical | 753 |
Chapter 11 Metallurgy Metalwork | 823 |
Sempers Table of Contents | 901 |
Plates | 903 |
Works Cited by Semper | 921 |
Considered in Themselves and in Relation to Architecture | 466 |
A AestheticFormal | 467 |
B TechnicalHistorical | 559 |
| 947 | |
| 955 | |
Common terms and phrases
according aesthetic already ancient antepagment antique appear architect architecture architrave art-form artistic ashlar Asiatic Assyrian Athenaeus baldachin base beautiful bronze building carved ceiling century ceramics Chinese clay color columns construction contrast covered decoration Doric dressing early Egypt Egyptian elements embroidery enamel enamel painting entablature ETH Zürich Etruscan eurythmic example expression fabrics faience formal frame frieze glass glaze gold Gothic Gottfried Semper Greek Hellenic horizontal hydria imitation influence invention Ionic Ionic order krater later marble masonry material metal monuments motifs motive Museum nature norm oldest Oriental original ornamental painting panels Paris patterns period peripteral plastic Pliny polychrome porcelain pottery principle probably produced remarkable Renaissance rich Roman roof sculpture Selinus shape silk similar stereotomy stone structural stucco style stylistic surface survived symbols taste technical technique tectonics temple textiles threads timber tion tombs toreutics tradition triglyph vases vertical vessels Vitruvius vols wall wood