Gridley James Fox Bryant
| Gridley J. F. Bryant | |
|---|---|
Bryant in the 1850s
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| Born |
Gridley James Fox Bryant August 29, 1816 Scituate, Massachusetts |
| Died | June 8, 1899 (aged 82) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Gridley J. F. Bryant |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Parent(s) |
Gridley Bryant (father) Maria Winship Fox (mother) |
| Buildings |
Massachusetts State House Quincy Market Old City Hall Gloucester City Hall Dartmouth Hall Hathorn Hall Shattuck Observatory |
Gridley James Fox Bryant (August 29, 1816 – June 8, 1899), often referred to as G.J.F. Bryant, was a Boston architect, builder, and industrial engineer. His designs "dominated the profession of architecture in [Boston] and New England", spanning his career and after. He was known as one of the most influential architects in the history of New England, and designed custom houses, government buildings, churches, schoolhouses, and private residences across the United States, and was known as being popular among the Boston elite. His most notable designs are foundational buildings on numerous campus across the Northeastern United States, such as on the campuses of Dartmouth College, Tufts College, Bates College, and Harvard College. He has been credited as one of the first modern architects of America, and at the height of his career was the most commissioned architect in New England and the most commissioned in the history of the city of Boston.
A native of Massachusetts, his early life was heavily influenced by his father's life work in construction engineering. His father, Gridley Bryant built the first commercial railroad in the United States. In his early life he did not receive formal training in architecture but taught himself industrial engineering and construction analysis as well as building design. His first informal mentor was Alexander Perris, who introduced him to neoclassical design and the utilization of Second Empire architectural templates. His self-started firm, "Bryant & Associates", was one of the most selective and popular architectural firms in New England and Bryant himself designed for institutions that provided high personal value, societal value or if sufficient payment was made to him personally, oftentimes described as "ludicrously expensive". He was the first architect in history to be featured on London's The Builder, a record three of his designs were featured, his constant public featuring propelled him into the public eye and earned him expensive and large commissions. He often was paired with John Hubbard Sturgis to design and create luxury housing for wealthy private townspeople.
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