“Such a style is in itself a call for originality”: Imre Henszlmann’s views on the contemporary reinterpretation of Gothic forms

Abstract

In the following essay, I will explore the views of Imre Henszlmann (1813–1888), an art historian, archaeologist and art critic who was the first professor of the Department of Art History at the University of Budapest, on the contemporary applicability of medieval architecture, with a particular focus on Gothic architecture and construction methods. Initially, I will outline the circumstances and motivations behind the adoption of medieval styles in Hungarian architecture during the mid-19th century. By placing Henszlmann's work in this context, I will demonstrate that, throughout his career, he frequently expressed his views on contemporary buildings or the role of contemporary architecture, in addition to his architecture-historical and archaeological studies. Examining his writings from the 1840s and 1860s, it is clear that his study of Gothic building methods and architectural proportions led him to develop a clear understanding of the subject. He believed that, of all the historical architectural styles, only Gothic possessed characteristics that could be successfully applied to 19th-century building types while simultaneously satisfying the architectural demands of the era. In his view, historical forms in the architecture of his own era did not serve an illustrative role, but were tools of a complex artistic method. Henszlmann’s conception of architecture, which viewed buildings as functional creations where forms served to realise their function to the fullest extent possible, was likely understood only by a few of his contemporaries. In the second half of the 19th century, the illustrative intent became dominant in the contemporary application of medieval architecture.