Contextual Influences on Art and Design: Design

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution took place between the late 18th century and the early 20th century.The Industrial Revolution was a period which took place in rural societies such in Europe and America became industrial and urban.The Industrial Revolution first took place in Britain.Britain is known to be it's birthplace.While this time was in place,it meant to go through from hand production methods to machines.People took a small step further by using machines,new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes.Water Power also improved and people were being interested in science and technology.One well known engineer by that time was Thomas Newcomen.Thomas Newcomen was a British engineer and inventor.One of his famous machines he created and was very well known was the steam engine.This engine was a precursor of James Watt's engine.The steam engine meant having unlimited power day and night.In Newcomen's engine the intensity of pressure was not limited by the pressure of the steam.When this engine was created the steam age had started.This led to the machine age and the Industrial Revolution.Because of the Industrial Revolution,people had to move from the country side to the cities looking for work.

The 19th century came along and it was an era of innovations and revivals.At the start of this century,the Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick, and the American,Oliver Evans began constructing higher pressure non-condensing steam engines.The steam engine also underwent many improvements.It was then at the middle of the 19th century that London boasted the steam engine world's first underground railways and the first photograph.

Gothic Revival

The Gothic Revival took place between 1820 and 1870.It was the Gothic Revival in America and England.By this time England had seen a return to the church and restoration of cathedrals had featured the medieval Christian values and therefore buildings.This Revival was never popular as Greek or Italianate styles.The other styles were the Neo-Morish,Neo-Turkish and Neo-Egyptian.One known man from this age was Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin.Augustus was an architect,designer,writer and theorist.He had been studying with his father when he was young.When he got older in 1835 he had started his architectural career and had worked with Charles Barry on the designs.They worked on designs for new Houses of Parliament.Augustus was a prolific designer of stained glass,metalwork,furniture,textiles,wallpapers,ceramics,embroideries and jewellery.Pugin also had writings which provided the foundation of the later development of the Arts and Crafts.For Pugin the Gothic Revival represented the order and stability of the Christian Faith.

The Crystal Palace

This Palace was a glass and cast iron building which was located in London.It was for the Great Exhibition of 1851.This Palace was built by Joseph Paxton.The Crystal Palace was happening at the same time the Gothic Revival was happening yet in another place.Paxton had made a design and it had been based on a module that the size of the largest glass sheet available at the time had been accessed.People kept coming for this exhibition and it was very popular.Though in 1936 the building was sadly destroyed by a fire.Queen Victoria had written in her Journal that the day of the exhibition,it was her best day for her.She said that the park presented a wonderful spectacle and that there were crowds streaming through it.