Henry Austin: In Every Variety of Architectural Style

by James F. O'Gorman

Overview

Winner of the Historic New England Book Prize (2009)
Winner of the Henry-Russell Hitchcock Book Award (2010)

Henry Austin’s (1804–1891) works receive consideration in books on nineteenth-century architecture, yet no book has focused scholarly attention on his primary achievements in New Haven, Connecticut, in Portland, Maine, and elsewhere. Austin was most active during the antebellum era, designing exotic buildings that have captured the imaginations of many for decades. James F. O’Gorman deftly documents Austin’s work during the 1840s and ’50s, the time when Austin was most productive and creative, and for which a wealth of material exists. The book is organized according to various building types: domestic, ecclesiastic, public, and commercial. O’Gorman helps to clarify what buildings should be attributed to the architect and comments on the various styles that went into his eclectic designs. Henry Austin is lavishly illustrated with 132 illustrations, including 32 in full color. Three extensive appendices provide valuable information on Austin’s books, drawings, and his office.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780819568960
Publisher:	Wesleyan University Press
Publication date:	02/17/2009
Series:	Garnet Books
Pages:	601
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 10.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

JAMES F. O’GORMAN is McNeil Professor Emeritus at Wellesley College. He is chairman of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and author of numerous books, including Living Architecture: A Biography of H. H. Richardson (1996), ABC of Architecture (2000), and Connecticut Valley Vernacular (2002).

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Preface
Introduction
A Career Begins
Domestic Architecture of the 1840s and 1850s
Ecclesiastical Architecture of the 1840s and 1850s
Public and Commercial Architecture of the 1840s and 1850s
Some Later Buildings
Appendixes
Austin’s Books
The Austin Drawing Collection at Yale University
Austin and His Office
Notes
Index

What People are Saying About This

Michael J. Lewis

“This is a ground-breaking study of a major architect who did much to shape our image of the Victorian world. Austin was a complete cipher until now, and O’Gorman has done an admirable job of rescuing him from historical oblivion.”

Christopher Wigren

“With his extensive background in 19th-century American architecture, James O’Gorman has put Henry Austin into the context of his time. Few in-depth books on individual antebellum architects are available, so this knowledgeable study of Austin is invaluable.”

Editorial Reviews

A fresh look at the work of mid-19th century architect Henry Austin, this enjoyable, nicely illustrated volume focuses on his wide range of aesthetic styles and genres. Wellesley College art historian O'Gorman (Connecticut Valley Vernacular) begins with Austin's early work in Connecticut, and organizes his decade of work from 1840 to 1850 by purpose: domestic, ecclesiastical, and public/commercial buildings (a final chapter looks at later work). One of O'Gorman's themes is the inspirational role played by international literature and painting, with specific examples to illustrate: in one house, Austin "touches on the nineteenth-century love... for Orientalism, that distortion of Eastern cultures that also found its way into the painting and literature of the period." Austin's shifts in scale and aesthetic are marked with some bold entries; his public building work "began with a bang... an Egyptian Revival gateway at the New Haven Burial Ground." Though the overriding theme is nothing new-plenty of architects possess an eclectic style that changes with the times-O'Gorman's contention that Austin "produced his own reflection on the culture of his era" is well supported, with solid details and focus. 100 b/w illus, 32 color illus.
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Publishers Weekly

O'Gorman (ABC of Architecture) focuses mainly on the first two decades of 19th-century architect Henry Austin's career, just prior to the Civil War. Austin was born in Connecticut during Thomas Jefferson's presidency and died as Louis Sullivan began designing skyscrapers; however, owing to the lack of primary-source information, Austin's biography may never truly be fleshed out. Therefore, O'Gorman concentrates on his architecture, organizing the chapters according to use: domestic, ecclesiastical, public, and commercial. The 132 high-quality, in-text plates illustrate Austin's historicism and eclecticism, such as his lotus blossom-shaped capitals on columns supporting a neoclassical porch and his use of Indian revival or Moorish-inspired decorative elements. Information on his personal library, collection of drawings, and professional practice is included, as well as extensive endnotes. VERDICT O'Gorman achieves his stated purpose—to begin to ameliorate the lack of information about Austin, describe his body of work, and guide further research. Of interest to architectural history students and serious general readers.—Nancy J. Mactague, Aurora Univ. Lib., IL

—Nancy J. Mactague

Library Journal

This book…will go a long way toward establishing Henry Austin’s place in the pantheon of early-19th-century architectural innovators.” —Eve Kahn, Traditional Building

James F. O’Gorman, a much-published architectural historian now retired from Wellesley College, as plumbed Austin’s career. His beautifully illustrated Henry Austin: In Every Architectural Style is the first book to bring together much what Austin produced. —Philip langdon, Hartford Courant

“Happily, O’Gorman’s meticulously researched study puts Henry Austin’s career back on firm footing and restores his rightful place as a pillar of New England’s architectural heritage.”—Jonathan M. Beagle, The New England Quarterly

From the Publisher