The publication of the first volume of The Antiquities of Athens in 1762/3 marked a pivotal shift in European architectural study, established through the meticulous on-site surveys conducted by Nicholas Revett and James Stuart. By prioritizing scale, accuracy, and detailed mapping over imaginative reconstruction, Revett transformed the scholarly understanding of ancient Greek structural principles and ornamental details.
Early Training and Partnerships
Born in 1720 at Framlingham, Revett trained under the proto-Neoclassical painter Marco Benefial. During his time in Italy, he encountered James Stuart. Their collaboration was formalized through the Society of Dilettanti, a London-based organization established by Grand Tour veterans, including Sir James Gray. The society provided the patronage and institutional support necessary for the duo to embark on their Greek expeditions, beginning with their 1751 arrival in Athens.
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The surveys produced by Revett and Stuart were notable for their rigorous methodology, involving the creation of 368 etched and engraved plates. They documented ruins across Athens and the Aegean Islands, including Delos. Their work gained historical significance for identifying ancient Greek polychromy, a feature previously unrecorded by European scholars. Although Revett withdrew from the project after the first volume, the research set a new standard for archaeological precision, standing in direct contrast to the earlier surveys of French rival Julien-David Le Roy.
Architectural Contributions
Revett’s professional output as a designer was selective, often focusing on additions to country estates owned by members of the Society of Dilettanti. In 1771, he added a western portico to West Wycombe Park for Sir Francis Dashwood, modeling the structure after the temple of Bacchus at Teos. He also designed a portico for Standlynch Park, now Trafalgar Park, owned by Henry Dawkins. His only complete domestic project was The Rectory at Mereworth, Kent, built in 1780 under the supervision of surveyor Luffman Atterbury. Additionally, he executed the design for the church at Ayot St Lawrence in Hertfordshire during the 1770s.
Second Expedition and Later Years
Following a rupture in his partnership with Stuart, Revett embarked on a second mission during the 1760s, sponsored again by the Society of Dilettanti. Accompanied by Richard Chandler and others, he traveled to Ionia and Greece to document bas-reliefs, inscriptions, and building remains with extreme detail. This effort resulted in publications including Ionian Antiquities in 1769. Revett spent his final years in London, where he died in 1804. He was buried in Brandeston, having experienced pecuniary difficulties toward the end of his life.
Fast facts
- Born: 1720, Framlingham
- Died: 1804, London
- Primary Movement: Greek Revival architecture
- Occupations: Architect, painter, archaeologist
- Key Publication: The Antiquities of Athens (1762)
- Significant Project: West Wycombe Park portico (1771)
- Collaborator: James Stuart
- Expedition Location: Ionia and Greece
Questions readers ask
Was Nicholas Revett primarily a professional architect?
He is often described as an amateur architect who considered himself a gentleman, though he played a foundational role in the Greek Revival movement through his detailed archaeological documentation.
What was the significance of the second expedition?
Led in the 1760s with Richard Chandler, this expedition aimed to record measurements, plans, and inscriptions of antiquities in Ionia, further contributing to the body of knowledge regarding ancient Greek architecture.
Achievements
- Movement: Greek Revival architecture
