THREADS OF SIGNIFICANCE AND SYMBOLISM IN THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE 19TH CENTURY
MONIKA GAŁA-WALCZOWSKA
ABSTRACT
The architecture of the 19thcentury was a reflection of both the era of mysticism and the era of secularization in art. It was a pursuit of the ideal of unity of the arts, and at the same time of relativity and individualism. Grounded in Romanticism, it might be seen as a product of a certain spiritual attitude, world view and scientific movement called historicism. Development of the history of art, a fascination with the past, together with the richness and diversity of styles, influenced the polyphony of the architecture of the time, in which historicism, and then eclecticism took precedence. Architects of historicism were creating works inspired by a single style. Eclecticism used historic styles perceived as romantic at the time, mixing their forms and motives in a single building. In 19th century architecture, threads of significance are interwoven with symbolism and values represented by the styles of previous historic periods, reinterpreting their forms and meanings.
Key words: architecture of the 19th century, historicism, eclecticism, architectural form and composition, content, threads of significance and symbolism in architecture