The Romanesque Revival

“Oddly enough, this exemplary study is the first comprehensive work on the Romanesque Revival in architecture and mural painting that originated in the early 19th century in Germany, where it was known as the Rundbogenstil or round arch style.” —T.J. McCormick, emeritus, Choice

“Notwithstanding this German bias, Kathleen Curran’s book is a fine achievement. It contains original material on almost every page and Curran reinterprets some of the well-known themes in fresh terms. The text reads like the fruit of a lifetime’s scholarly experience, yet is clear and thoroughly engrossing. The Romanesque Revival is well-documented, beautifully illustrated, and contains with a wide range of previously unpublished plans, drawings and photographs.” —J. B. Bullen, The Art Book

“Curran’s hypotheses invite a host of further investigations. What is more important, she has raised the bar substantially for the range of cultural, political, and religious factors that must be weighed to explain the complex issues of meaning in the use of historical style in nineteenth-century architecture. Her book should be considered an obligatory sequel to Michael Lewis’ brilliant The Politics of German Gothic Revival, which shares some of the same protagonists.” —Barry Bergdoll, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians

“This is a splendidly researched, engaging account, which fills a real gap in the literature and will be of genuine value to anyone interested in nineteenth-century architecture.” —William Whyte, Ecclesiastical History

“The animating thesis of Curran's book is that the international Romanesque-revival movement in Germany, England, and the United States was driven largely by the efforts of political and religious leaders to remake both sacred and secular institutions in the face of the social challenges precipitated by the Industrial Revolution. In bringing these influences to light, Curran addresses a gap in the current scholarship, particularly with respect to the Romanesque in the the United States, and she offers a host of tantalizing suggestions that should guide new scholarship for some time to come.” —Jeanne Halgren Kilde, Winterthur Portfolio

“Curran's primary achievement in this book lies in the richness of the intellectual, historical, religious, and social influences she relates to the erecting of new buildings in the Romanesque style. By unraveling the connections among the religious, political, educational, and social issues of the time as well as the personal relationships among several key players, Curran reminds readers that the study of architecture is, at its best, the study of human interaction and meaning creation. The meanings and ideas negotiated in a variety of public and religious settings during this period were deemed by architects, artists, scholars, and clients alike to be well expressed by the construction of new buildings that featured the Romanesque style. Architectural style, rather than being the focus of the study, is used by the author as a lens through which to examine various networks of thought and ideas within which the architecture played a part.” —Jeanne Halgren Kilde, Winterthur Portfolio

“This method of investigation holds enormous promise for the study of architecture as well as promise for the study of architecture as well as material culture generally, and Curran's work significantly advances our knowledge of the issues and debates associated with the Romanesque.” —Jeanne Halgren Kilde, Winterthur Portfolio

“By offering a number of new contexts in which to consider Romanesque architecture, she has raised important questions and invited debates that will engage scholars for quite some time. Thus, she has rendered an important service to the field. Her work on the German contexts of the Rundbogenstil is clearly the major contribution of the study, and here her primary research is of enormous value. Her forays into the English and American use of the Romanesque are suggestive and light the way to further questions for scholars to explore. In addition, the sheer physical beauty of the book–with its sharply focused black and white illustrations, excellent color plates, glossy paper, and exceptional layout–makes it all the more valuable to students, scholars, and architects alike. The Romanesque Revival stands as a seminal treatment of this important architectural style and a model for unraveling the complicated processes through which architecture participates in the cultural negotiation of meaning.” —Jeanne Halgren Kilde, Winterthur Portfolio

“Focused on the important German-generated Rundbogenstil (round-arch style), or Romanesque Revival, in its various forms as practiced in Germany, England, and the United States from about 1825 to 1875, Kathleen Curran's study is admirably thorough in its coverage. It sets the Rundbogenstil in context, addressing the relevant German, English, and American historical, political, and religious factors and movements. Other remarkable aspects include the author's expert consideration of mural painting and painted interior decoration in relation to Rundbogenstil architecture. The first comprehensive study of the Romanesque Revival, this extraordinary book will fill a gaping void that has long hampered American architecture scholarship.” —Sarah Bradford Landau, New York University