Adrien Palladino — Jan Galeta

An Inherited Mirage: Tracing Theory, Architecture, and Ideologies of the ‘NeoByzantine’ Style between France and Central Europe (1820s–1890s)

The study examines the revival of Byzantine architecture in France and Central Europe (German lands and the Danube Monarchy) during the 19th century. A complex interplay of cultural, political, and scientific influences characterised this revival in both regions. The knowledge of Byzantine architecture at that time, as well as the application of its various elements in contemporary buildings, occurred against the backdrop of a somewhat sceptical Enlightenment perspective, which generally regarded this era as a decline in classical artistic values. Despite this scepticism, Byzantine elements began to emerge in various regions, each reflecting different ideological intentions. Four main factors motivated the rediscovery and reapplication of Byzantine art and architecture: the systematic study of the past and the establishment of art history as a scientific discipline based on the categorisation of styles; the use of historicising architecture by various political and social classes as a means for legitimising their own histories and shaping external representation; architects‘ efforts to achieve originality and novelty in their search for artistic expression, not only in terms of decoration, but also in terms of materials and construction techniques; and, finally, contemporary tastes and artistic trends. The study highlights the contrast between the reception of Byzantine elements in France—integrated into state narratives—and in the Habsburg Monarchy, where they served to express a distinct identity within a multi-ethnic empire. The analysis is structured into three parts: it first examines debates about Byzantine art in contemporary French and Germanophone (and partly Czechophone) scholarship; then it looks at the architectural manifestations of these ideas in France; and finally, it discusses their implementation in Central Europe. The study emphasises that terminology and opinions concerning Byzantine architecture circulated between France and Central Europe within broader cultural and political contexts, shaping identities and manifestations of authority, rather than being merely an aesthetic endeavour.

Author's email:

adrien.palladino@phil.muni.cz, galeta@phil.muni.cz

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54759/ART-2025-0307



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