Historicism in Architecture

Historicism in architecture involved revivals of various architectural styles of the past.

Western historicist styles included Egyptian, Greek, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and other revivals.

Historicist architecture was used to design large buildings in the 19th century.

For example, Catholic churches were typically constructed in the “Gothic Revival” style, imitating the architecture of medieval cathedrals.

Later in the 19th century, Eclectic historicism became common.  Here, details of various pasts styles were combined freely (especially those of Gothic, Classical, Baroque and Renaissance). It became very popular for apartment buildings and other secular structures. Often these buildings were elaborately designed. Even a simple apartment building or a wooden house for a family now had towers, domes and facade sculptures, once reserved for churches and major public buildings.