The 19th Century Style of Art in the Context of Contemporary Terminology

Abstract

The 19th century style is mostly referred to as Eclecticism. In some countries, mostly in Germany, the term “Historicism” is also used. At the same time it never found wider application in Anglo-American or French art-historical studies. The term Eclecticism was introduced in Latvian in 1980ies, later “Historicism” was used as well. One of the purposes of this article is to resolve these terminological inconsistencies. “Historicism” should be understood as general method and not only as distinct style. The 19th century architecture has been analysed within a wider historical perspective.