Restoring Old Homes and Preserving the Past!
I have always been a believer in preserving the character and charm of beautiful old buildings that were built in former times when quality and craftsmanship were cherished and even expected! That’s why the majority of the homes I have painted around the country are historic homes. I also know the work, time and money that has to be poured into these homes. One can see the love and pure creation oozing out of these old homes.
Here are two examples of two homes in Lansing that serve as classic examples of such restoration. In each case I chose them as house portrait subjects last year when my husband Bruce and I were in Lansing, and I put the finishing touches on them while here this time, before embarking on our cross country tour. I’m proud to say that both paintings are now gracing the walls of these respective homes.
The first is an Italianate home in the downtown Lansing area. This style of architecture is not very common in Lansing so this one really caught my eye.
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. The style of architecture that was thus created, though also characterized as “Neo-Renaissance“, was essentially of its own time. The Italianate style was first developed in Britain about 1802 by John Nash, with the construction of Cronkhill in Shropshire. This small country house is generally accepted to be the first Italianate villa in England, from which is derived the Italianate architecture of the late Regency and early Victorian eras. The Italianate style was further developed and popularized by the architect Sir Charles Barry in the 1830s.
The Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th – early 20th century was an aesthetic movement with a social conscience that gave us wonderful architecture and decorative arts and a saner philosophy of life. Today, the revival is in full swing.
The late 19th – early 20th century was a period of immense change for the state of Michigan, with great wealth being created by the automobile industry. Great wealth often brings an appreciation of finer things, and this was true of Michigan which has a rich Arts and Crafts history as a result.
This home is a true example of this rich history. From what I have seen so far, it is one of the nicest Craftsman homes in Lansing and even the entire state — and not just from the outside. I was lucky enough to be given a tour of the home and found that the Craftsman interior is on a par with the exterior. Very nice!
Kudos to the homeowners who made these home so art inspiring!
More historic homes to come!
Leisa
