Architectural Spotlight: Romanesque Revival

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Origins in medieval Europe

The Romanesque Revival style of architecture, popular in the United States from around 1850 through the 1890s, is fascinating to examine because it can be thought of as a revival of a revival. It drew inspiration from the Romanesque architecture of medieval Europe, particularly that of the 11th and 12th centuries—a style that itself revived and reinterpreted architectural traditions inherited from ancient Rome. Medieval Romanesque architecture was characterized by massive, fortress-like stone walls, rounded arches, decorative arcades, substantial pillars, and towers.

The style became one of the first truly transregional architectural traditions to emerge in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, spreading across regions that had once been part of the Roman world. Examples of Romanesque architecture can famously be found in castles and fortifications throughout Europe, but the style is far more abundantly represented in churches and other religious buildings.

Lessay Abbey, France. Constructed in the 12th century, Lessay Abbey features the quintessential monumental massing and round-arched windows of the Romanesque style. Photograph by Ji-Elle. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Maria Laach Abbey, Germany. Also constructed in the 12th century, Maria Laach Abbey is a beautiful example of the Romanesque style that showcases multiple towers with decorative arcades. Photograph by Goldi64. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

By the early 13th century, the medieval Romanesque style was giving way to other architectural styles across much of Europe and gradually faded away. More than six centuries later, it was consciously revived by architects and designers in the middle of the 19th century, giving rise to what is known as the Romanesque Revival style.

Nineteenth-century revival in the United States

Romanesque Revival was mainly introduced in the United States with the construction of the Smithsonian Institution Building, completed in 1855. Designed by James Renwick Jr., the building was constructed of striking red sandstone and presented the American public with a modern interpretation of medieval European architecture.

Smithsonian Institution Building, Washington, D.C., 1864. E. & H. T. Anthony, publisher. Library of Congress.

The Romanesque Revival style found a champion in Robert Dale Owen, a Scottish-born Indiana politician and social reformer who served on the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents. In his Hints on Public Architecture, published in 1849, Owen argued that the predominant style of architecture in the United States at the time—Greek Revival—was ill-suited to serve modern-day needs.

Mainly, Owen took issue with how limiting the Greek Revival style could be. He argued that designing buildings to resemble Greek temples placed constraints on their actual functions. In other words, he believed that the conventions of Greek Revival architecture dictated the arrangement and use of the interior. Where the rigidity and symmetry of the Greek Revival style made practical requirements such as windows, heating, ventilation, stairs, and varied interior spaces difficult to accommodate, the irregular masses and flexible arrangements of the Romanesque style made them much easier to incorporate. Buildings could be utilitarian first while still being pleasing to the eye.

Douglas Hall at the Old University of Chicago. Constructed in 1859, Douglas Hall reflects Robert Dale Owen's belief that the Romanesque style was both beautiful and functional. No longer standing, it was demolished in 1890. University of Chicago Photographic Archive, apf2-05358, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Henry H. Richardson and Richardsonian Romanesque

Few architects are more closely associated with the Romanesque Revival style than Henry Hobson Richardson. Richardson took the Romanesque Revival style of the 1850s and 1860s and transformed it into a uniquely American expression of architecture that took hold in the 1870s and continued through the 1890s. This branch of the Romanesque Revival became so distinct that it was given its own name in honor of its most influential practitioner: Richardsonian Romanesque. Building on the utilitarian principles that had helped shape the American Romanesque Revival, Richardson took Romanesque forms and asked the question, How can these be rearranged, simplified, and reinterpreted for modern buildings?  The result was a body of massive, imposing buildings that were not historical replicas of medieval architecture but unmistakably evoked its design ideals. Richardsonian Romanesque quickly became a popular style for public buildings such as government buildings, libraries, and train stations.

Albany City Hall, Albany, New York. Constructed between 1880 and 1883, Albany City Hall is considered one of Richardson's most representative works. Photograph by Matt H. Wade. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Ames Memorial Library, North Easton, Massachusetts. Also designed by Richardson, the Ames Memorial Library is an example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style applied to a smaller, simpler structure. Note the many similarities it still holds with the Albany City Hall. Photograph by Daderot. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

St. Louis Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis Union Station is one of the largest surviving examples of the style in the United States. Although it was not designed by Richardson, its monumental scale demonstrates the breadth of his influence and how widely architects across the country adopted and adapted the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Author's photograph.

Romanesque Revival reflected in private homes

Although the style was popular in public buildings, many Richardsonian Romanesque houses were built across the country in the late 19th century. Quintessential examples of the style are often found among the mansions of the wealthy elite, largely because its fullest expression was expensive to construct. Solid masonry construction, irregular forms, massive arches, towers, and highly detailed facades all required substantial materials, skilled labor, and craftsmanship

John R. Lionberger House, St. Louis, Missouri. Designed by H. H. Richardson and built in 1887, the Lionberger House is a perfect example of how fortress-like houses in the Richardsonian Romanesque style could appear. Sadly, the house was demolished in 1950. The Inland Architect and News Record, Chicago: Inland Publishing Co., vol. XI.

Samuel Gamble Bayne mansions, New York City. Built in 1887 and 1891 on Riverside Drive, the twin Bayne mansions are examples of the Romanesque style that was often preferred by Gilded Age elite. They were demolished in 1916 and 1922. Photograph courtesy of the New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Five Oaks Mansion, also known as the McClymonds House, Massillon, Ohio. Built in 1894 and designed by Cleveland architect Charles F. Schweinfurth, Five Oaks is a beautiful example of a Richardsonian Romanesque house still standing today. Photograph by Sanfranman59. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

By the end of the 19th century, the popularity of Romanesque Revival architecture began to wane. Its massive masonry construction and elaborate ornamentation were increasingly seen as expensive and impractical, while architects and clients began turning toward newer styles. The rise of Beaux-Arts, Colonial Revival, and other architectural movements gradually pushed H. H. Richardson's beloved style out of fashion. By the early 20th century, the style had largely become a product of the previous generation.