The Neoclassical style of architecture began in the 18th century and has large relations to the Classical Greek and Roman styles. The creators had a sense of wanting to return to the romantic and memorial art of the Romans. The Neoclassical style also has similarities and had evolved from methods used back in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Two artists in particular had greatly influenced the Neoclassical architects of the 18th century: Étienne-Louis Boullée and Claude-Nicolas Ledoux. Both were men architects of French origin. This style has been popular in a large amount of countries mainly stationed in Europe, Nordic countries, and in America. In respect to America, the most popular buildings and monuments that have been built in the neoclassical style include the Lincoln Memorial, National Gallery, and the Roosevelt Memorial located in the Museum of Natural History. Considering the style itself, it focuses on simplified geometric shapes, columns, and fine detailed found in Greek and Roman buildings. Artists used the neoclassical style in their buildings because of it’s Greek and Roman roots, but also used it as a way to protest against the then popular Rococo style in Europe, but most popular in France. This style was extremely elaborate and had a very fancy and over the top feel to it. The neoclassical style is still used to this day throughout the world, and still is a very popular architectural style that anyone wanting to learn about architecture must know about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoclassical_architecture
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1383512/Neoclassical-architecture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococo
