Reich verzierte Architekturelemente 1829

Friedrich Maximilian Hessemer made this pencil drawing, "Richly Decorated Architectural Elements," to capture the aesthetic and principles of ornamentation. Hessemer was part of a generation of architects and designers who sought to revive historical styles, in part by celebrating pre-industrial craftsmanship. In the early 19th century, architectural education was increasingly centralized in institutions, such as the Bauakademie in Berlin and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Hessemer’s drawing may be seen in this light, as part of a larger effort to codify and transmit historical forms and motifs for the education of future architects. The drawing is a clear demonstration of visual codes such as symmetry and rhythm. Hessemer has clearly been influenced by ancient and medieval ornament. Art historians might compare this drawing with similar examples from pattern books and architectural treatises, to understand the place of drawing in the circulation of design ideas. Only through such careful, historically grounded research can we understand the social role of art and the institutional frameworks that supported it.