At the western end of Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia stands an opulent structure known as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Horace Trumbauer and Julian Abele collaborated on the structure’s design, which they finished in 1928 (Wolferman, 2020). The key artworks that allow one to consider the Philadelphia Museum of Art a classical building are its exterior and column orders. The museum’s massive entry staircase, fluted columns, and substantial pediment are all reminiscent of the Parthenon, an ancient Greek temple. The grand staircase leading to the main entrance is one of the building’s most recognizable elements (Kiernan, 2019). Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian are just a few of the various column orders that may be found in the museum. The Grand Stair Hall of the museum has a line of enormous Corinthian columns (Colflesh, 2011). These column arrangements are typical of classical architecture and are intended to conjure up images of the majesty and sturdiness of older structures. In conclusion, with its grand entry staircase, ionic columns, and colossal pediment, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a spectacular illustration of classical architecture.
The reading’s primary points are the overview of numerous Greek temple designs and the significance of their architectural components. Greek temples developed from primitive wooden and mud brick constructions to more durable limestone and marble ones. Greek architects valued balance and proportion in their creations, comparing harmony in music to proportion in architecture and sculpture. With its intricately carved capitals and moldings, the very concept of the building was envisioned by the Greeks as a sculpture with the capacity to arouse emotions in viewers.
The Temple of Aphaia in Aegina, Greece, is particularly interesting as it provides insight into the architectural and sculptural innovations of the early fifth century BCE. With a smaller overall footprint than other Archaic temples, the Temple of Aphaia is a sophisticated example of an Archaic temple design. The temple’s architect was able to do this by enhancing the internal elevation and design with a double colonnade, allowing for a statue on the temple’s central axis and an unhindered view for worshippers.
References
Colflesh, J. (2011). Corinthian column [Photograph]. Flickr. Web.
Kiernan, K. (2019). Philadelphia [Photograph]. Unsplash. Web.
Wolferman, K. C. (2020). The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: A history. University of Missouri Press.