Dictionary:

Beaux Arts

  (bō-zär', -zärt')

Of or relating to an architectural style originating in France in the late 19th century and characterized by classical forms, symmetry, rich ornamentation, and a grand scale.

[After the École des Beaux Arts, School of Fine Arts, in Paris.]

Florid Classical style evolved in the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, the main official art-school in France, founded in 1795, when it became a separate institution from the old Académie Royale. The School was very influential, and often started young architects in their careers with the award of the Prix de Rome (from 1723), intended to perpetuate the academic traditions of training. The Beaux-Arts style, as it came to be known, evolved in the second half of C19, especially in Paris, where most of the important architects trained, including several (e.g. Hunt, McKim, and Richardson) from the USA. Examples of the Beaux-Arts architectural style include Garnier's Opéra, Paris (1861–75), Polaert's Palais de Justice, Brussels (1866–83), and Girault's Petit Palais, Paris (1897–1900). Scholarly, self-confident, grand, and lush, the style was perfectly attuned to the mood of Europe and America in the two decades before 1914.

Bibliography

• Chilvers, Osborne, & Farr (eds.) (1988)
• Drexler (ed.) (1977)
• Egbert (1980)
• Middleton (ed.) (1982)

The full bibliography for this book is available to download as a pdf file.
Download the bibliography for A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (PDF: 1.2MB)