Asher Benjamin, architect

Design for a Federal style house, by Asher Benjamin

Asher Benjamin (June 15, 1773-July 26, 1845), born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, was a prominent American architect who transitioned between Federal style architecture and later Greek Revival. During his apprenticeship, he worked on the Old Connecticut State House, designed by architect Charles Bulfinch, and located in Hartford, Connecticut. He designed numerous houses and churches throughout New England. The first Deerfield Academy Building, 1797-1798, was by him; it is now open as the Memorial Hall Museum in Old Deerfield, Massachusetts. He lived and worked in his native Greenfield, in which several of his works remain; three years in Windsor, Vermont where his Old South Congregational Church (1798) still stands; and then later in Boston. Image File history File links Asher_Benjamin. ... Image File history File links Asher_Benjamin. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (461x748, 63 KB)Federal style design for a house, by Asher Benjamin (1773-1845). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (461x748, 63 KB)Federal style design for a house, by Asher Benjamin (1773-1845). ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1773 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of Greenfield, MA The Town of Greenfield, a city to be known as the Town of Greenfield is located in Franklin County, Massachusetts. ... Architect at his drawing board, 1893 An architect is a person involved in the planning, designing and oversight of a buildings construction. ... Federal style architecture occurred in the United States between 1780 and 1830, particularly from 1785 to 1815. ... Personal residence of Catherine the Great Greek Revival was a style of classical architecture which became fashionable in Europe in the 18th century, and in the United Kingdom and United States in the early 19th century. ... Apprenticeship is a traditional method, still popular in some countries, of training a new generation of skilled crafts practitioners. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Massachusetts State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch and completed in 1798. ... Nickname: The Insurance Capital of the World, New Englands Rising Star Official website: www. ... The states of New England are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. ... Deerfield Academy is a prep school located in Deerfield, Massachusetts. ... 1797 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Deerfield is a town located in Franklin County, Massachusetts. ... Windsor, Vermont Windsor is a town located in Windsor County, Vermont. ... Nickname: City on a Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Solar System), Athens of America Official website: www. ...

Benjamin's greatest influence is due to his pattern books, the first written by an American architect, which brought architectural history, style and geometry to ordinary builders in the field. These handbooks provided superb drawings and practical advice on not only full house plans, but also such details as circular staircases, doorways, mantlepieces, dormer windows, pilasters, balusters and fences. He sketched houses and churches, even a courthouse. The archeological sources of his designs were scrupulously cited, from the Temple of Theseus in Athens, Greece to the Arch of Titus in Rome, Italy. Other architects, including Ithiel Town and Amni Young, assimilated his plans. His book, "The Practical House Carpenter," published in 1830, had an enormous influence in changing American architectural taste towards the Greek Revival style from the Federal style, espoused by his previous handbooks. For other uses, see Athens (disambiguation). ... Detail from the Arch of Titus showing spoils from the Sack of Jerusalem The Arch of Titus is a triumphal arch with a single arched opening, located on the Via Sacra just to the south-east of the Forum in Rome. ... The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ... Home of Ithiel Town, New Haven, CT Ithiel Town (October 3, 1784 - June 13, 1844) was a prominent American architect and civil engineer. ...

The charm of many early New England towns owes a debt to Asher Benjamin, some of whose books remain in print. He died in 1845 at Springfield. Springfield MA skyline Nickname: City of Homes Official website: www. ...

Books by Asher Benjamin:

• Country Builder's Assistant, 1797
• The American Builder's Companion, with Daniel Reynard, 1806
• The Rudiments of Architecture, 1814
• The Practical House Carpenter, 1830