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Lasell was founded in 1851 as a women’s seminary, right in the middle of the Victorian Era, and that is portrayed in the architecture on campus. Authentic Victorian homes are available for student housing, and I LOVE them. The house I live in has stained glass, bay windows, a real fireplace, beautiful carpets, and so many more endearing details. Alongside that, I am taking both art history and fashion history courses. Basically, I have been surrounded by the Victorian aesthetic, and I love it. Especially because Auburndale, and Newton in general, is full of big, beautiful Victorian houses. So let’s discuss what makes up this aesthetic.
The Victorian Aesthetic describes a broad style from Queen Victoria’s reign, from 1837 to 1901, characterized by heavily ornate detailing, rich colors, and grand, elaborate designs in architecture, fashion, and decor. It technically encompasses both the more mainstream, opulent style and the later, more rebellious Aestheticism movement.
Architecture
- Buildings feature ornate details like decorative gables and rooftop finials, with complex structures like bay windows and steeply pitched roofs. It also referenced many Gothic features, as historical revival styles were very influential in this era.Â
Interior Design
- Interiors use rich wood furniture, luxurious fabrics like velvet, stained glass, decorative fireplaces, and carved wood paneling. Domestic spaces were grand and elaborate, and likely contained the new industrial machinery of the time, like washing machines and sewing machines.
Color Palette
- Often uses deep, rich jewel tones alongside earthy colors like browns and grays, though some designs actually have pastels. Things were very colorful and individualized, which resulted in no two things, whether house or dress, looking the same.
Fashion
- Notably characterized by corsetry, voluminous silhouettes that evolved from crinolines to bustles, and complex dressing rituals due to the corsetry and layering. The outfits were very formal and likely not very comfortable.Â
Influences
- The Victorian Era reflects a growing interest in global influences and historical revival styles from the Gothic, Rococo, and Renaissance periods. There was a rise of interest in academia, such as art, literature, and especially science, all contributing to the style. While the era was comprised of many influences, it does have its own styles that arise from the period. Examples include Beaux-Arts architecture (which is that ornamental, highly classical style), and Art Nouveau (which has the same elaborate elegance, but with more organic and asymmetrical shapes/motifs).
It’s important to note that during the Victorian Era, there was a heavy shift towards industrialization, and therefore a shift in the values of society towards mass production and efficiency. This is what prompted the Aestheticism movement, as it geared away from the ugliness and utilitarianism of the rising industrialization movement. It was what created the saying, “Art for art’s sake,” and essentially valued the looks, or “aesthetic”, of literature, visual arts, and music, over their functional purposes or commentaries. It was a direct rebellion against mass production and the extensive materialism of the Victorian Era.
Living at Lasell has made me so appreciative of historical architecture and aesthetics, and I highly recommend looking into your local architecture history!