Library: Historical Styles I & II: Course Overview

Course Description

The Historical Styles I & II courses provide a contextual overview of the history of Western design in furniture, interiors, and architecture.

Historical Styles I: Ancient world through 1820, focusing on the development of major forms, period styles and ornament from ancient Egypt through the Neoclassical Era.

Historical Styles II: History of Western furniture, interiors, and architecture in the 19th and 20th centuries: Styles examined include 19th-century revival styles, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, European and American Modernism, and the International Style.

After completing these courses you will:

Understand the historical development of interiors and design styles.
Recognize characteristics of the major periods and styles.
Understand how political, cultural and technological changes contribute to changes in style.
Understand historic design theories (Vitruvian classicism, Palladianism, Neoclassicism, etc).
Be familiar with basic decorative arts vocabulary and terms.
Become aware of how historic design relates to contemporary interiors.

Books (print and online)

Required:

Architecture and Interior Design: An Integrated History to the Present (This is the same text that will be used in Historical Styles II. It is only available in print, not as an ebook. The NYSID Library has many copies.).

A World History of Architecture, 2^nd ed.

The Fairchild Dictionary of Interior Design, 2^nded.

Art History (for those without prior art history courses)

E-books (via NYSID Library databases):

Historical Dictionary of Architecture (Ebook Central)

Global History of Architecture, 2^nd ed. (Ebook Central)

Miller’s Antiques Encyclopedia (Credo)

On reserve in the NYSID Library:

Interior Design & Decoration

History of Interior Design and Furniture, 2^nd ed.

Guide to Period Styles for Interiors

The Grammar of Ornament