AR H 1700 Thomas Jefferson, Architect

Fall 2016 Term Paper 

Due: Nov 30 in class at the beginning

Length—7 pages double spaced (1750 words), plus footnotes, bibliography, and

illustrations.

Prospectus, due: Nov. 2.---Length—1 page that includes a paragraph (25-75 words) about the subject of your paper, some of the questions, and cite 3 references you will consult.

 

For your paper you are to choose something that Jefferson designed, or was involved with, or that shows his influence. This could be a building, a garden, a piece of furniture, an art object, or a room. You are to use this as the basis of your interpretation.  Part of your interpretation should address issues of sources, and whether it displays classical influences, or local vernacular. A list of some possible buildings is attached but this is by no means complete.  If you choose UVA please choose some aspect, not the entire project. There are many possibilities and if you find something else you want to write on check with me, or the TA. The paper should include:

1. Object (building, etc) description
2. Sources—what the design draws upon from the past, or contemporary work
3. What are the political-symbolic meanings of the work? Or does it reflect other currents? Remember, this is to be interpretative, not just a recitation of facts.

 

Late papers will be penalized.           

 

Format:

a. Typed, double-spaced, length 7 pages (1750 words) of text, plus endnotes, bibliography and illustrations.

                        b. Follow the MLA or some other style manual as to endnotes format, and etc. Use endnotes, not (parenthesis)

            c. Illustrations will probably be necessary, high quality scans or xeroxes if clear are fine. 

                        DO NOT CUT OUT OF BOOKS OR MAGAZINES

                        d. Research is important and you must cite at least 3 print sources in

                                    addition to any one line materials.

Grading: papers will be graded according to the following criteria:

                        a. Brilliance of the choice and interpretation.

b. Adequacy of research as shown in paper, endnotes and bibliography.

                        c. Spelling, grammar, typing, and following above procedures.

 

The staff in the Fiske Kimball Fine Arts Library welcomes you to contact her to help with literature searches and other library issues regarding your topic. 

 

The following was developed a few years ago to assist students in analyzing buildings; you are not expected to rigidly follow these guidelines, but they indicate some of the information that might be included.

 

Basic Facts

--Architect (or designer), location, date

--Where does it stand in relation to the architect's career?

            --This should include basic biographical facts about the architect

--The Building as an object

            --Size, describe in terms of mass, height, etc.

--Material, use of different materials to create texture/express structure, etc.

            --Composition

--Fenestration, symmetry /asymmetry, diagonal, etc.

--What is its relationship to its surroundings?

--The Owner

            --Role of owner--or patron--did they have influence? how?

            --Did they find it satisfactory? Make changes after completed?

--The Builder (in some cases may be the owner), who? role? materials? Anything

            different?

Stylistic considerations

            --Source of style and details

            --Does it fit within any identifiable historic style?

--How are the stylistic parts treated?

--strict imitation, abstracted

--How is it similar/different from other buildings of the period or within the same style?

--Decoration--applied, integrated into the design, etc.

Symbolic and Interpretative Content

            --What intangible elements are represented within the design?

--nature, democracy, energy, tension, etc.

--How are these expressed within the design of the building?

--architect's sources for these elements

--how does this represent themes in Jefferson’s architecture or America history?

 

See also relevant chapters in: Barnet, Sylvan.  A Short Guide to Writing About Art. 2nd. ed. Boston:  Little, Brown, 1985. Fine Arts Reference N7476 .B37 1985. ARH 353/553

 

Architecture by Jefferson

Monticello, Albemarle Co.

Poplar Forest, Bedford Co.

Capitol, Richmond [and Capitol model]

Farmington—additions-- Charlottesville

Edgehill, Albemarle Co.

Barboursville, Orange Co.

Rotunda house design—location unknown

Charlotte County Courthouse, Charlotte Courthouse, VA

Buckingham County Courthouse--destroyed

The Residence, Woodberry Forest, Madison Co. -- Jefferson suggested aspects

Montpelier, Orange Co & Temple –Jefferson suggestions and Dinsmore and Neilson

Christ Church, Charlottesville, maybe Jefferson; destroyed

Nelson County Jail (former), Lovingston, VA maybe Jefferson

(Also look at list of buildings in the drawing list in back of Nichols, Thomas Jefferson’s Architectural Drawings

Following are by Jefferson followers

Stuart House, Staunton—

Edgemont, Albemarle Co. –

Bremo, Bremo barn Fluvanna Co. —Neilson?

Berry Hill, Orange Co.—Phillips and Crawford

Esmont—Albemarle Co.—Attributed to James Dinsmore

Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. –By John M. Perry

Montebello, Charlottesville--??

Edgehill I &II, Albemarle Co. –By Phillipps and Crawford

Estouteville, Albemarle Co.—By James Dinsmore

Oak Lawn, Charlottesville--Attributed to James Dinsmore

Jordan Gilmer house….901 E. Market, 1806, John Jordan

Belmont, Charlottesville—by??

Stono and Little Stono, Lexington—by John Jordon and Samuel Darst

Folly, Augusta Co. –

Elmwood, Union, Monroe Co., West Virginia, by?

Hope Plantation, Bertie County, NC, c.1796-1803

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, by William Nichols, 1829-37—destroyed—

Belle Mont, Tuscumbia vicinity, Colbert Co. Alabama, 1828-32

Farmington, KY –Jefferson advised, built by Speed and workman

The Farm, (John A. J.  Davis House) Charlottesville, by Phillips, Crawford, Blackburn

Frascati, Orange Co.—John M. Perry

Mount Pleasant, Alabama

Westend, Louisa Co.—Crawford and Magruder

Old State Bank, Decatur, Alabama, 1834-35

Saunders Hall, Lawrence Co, Alabama,

Birdwood,  Albemarle Co.—supposedly University workmen

Willow Grove, Orange Co.— by ?

Arcaded Courthouses: Sussex, Caroline, Madison, Page counties—all by Jefferson workmen or followers

Porticoed Courthouses: Augusta, Clarke, Cumberland, Goochland, Lunenburg, Halifax Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Spotsylvania, Franklin, and Fluvanna-- all by Jefferson workmen or followers

Un-porticoed: Greene,  Rappahannock --all by Jefferson workmen or followers

Compact churches: Christ Church, Glendower, Albemarle Co., Scottsville Christian Church, Scottsville, Albemarle Co., Presbyterian Church, Rappahannock, Grace Church, Ca Ira, Cumberland Co., Union Church, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah Co.

Annex to Rotunda, UVA

Washington & Lee University, including Faculty houses and Jordan house.

Western Lunatic Asylum, Staunton

Old Sweet Springs, Monroe Co., WVA

 

For illustrations and information on some of the above see the following—they are in the Fine Arts Library and filed in the reference section:

Greene, Bryan Clark, In Jefferson’s Shadow: The Architecture of Thomas R. Blackburn (New York: Virginia Historical Society and Princeton Architectural Press, 2006)

Lay, K. Edward, The Architecture of Jefferson Country, Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 2000)

Loth, Calder, ed. The Virginia Landmarks Register, 4th. ed. (University Press of Virginia, 1999) covers everything, well illustrated.

Wilson, Richard Guy, ed. Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont

            (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002)

For buildings out of state check for books, such as various volumes by Mills Lane,

Architecture of the Old South (various states); or as an example, Robert Gamble,

 Historic Architecture in Alabama (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama, 1990).