Neoklasik Bir Mimar Nasıl Olunur? Arkeolojik Araştırmalar, Seyahatler ve Tutkular: Charles Robert Cockerell (1788-1863)

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, Avrupa'nın neoklasik düşünceler ve sanat biçimlerine yoğunlaştığı geç aydınlanma çağında dünyaya gelen bir mimarın yaptığı gezilerin, tarzının biçimlenme sürecine etkisi ve bunun yanında neoklasik bir mimar olarak yükselmesindeki diğer nedenler anlaşılmaya çalışılmıştır. Cockerell'ın, özellikle, 7 yıllık Grand Tour'u sırasında edindiği bilgi birikiminin tarzının biçimlenmesine büyük etkisi olmuştur. Neoklasizmin son aşaması olan Yunan canlandırmacılığı (Greek Revival) alanında yükselen bir mimar olmasında, kendisine temel bir birikim sağlayan seyahatleri, arkeolojik araştırmaları, restorasyon denemeleri, resimleri, ölçekli çizimleri, günlükleri önem taşır. Özellikle, Osmanlı topraklarını da içeren bölgelerde yaptığı gezilerde antik kalıntıları ilk elden incelemesi, mimarlığını büyük oranda beslemiştir ve daha sonraki tasarımlarını şekillendirmiştir.Cockerell'ın, antik dönem eserleri üzerinde bilimsel çalışmalar yapması ve bunları ülkesine götürme çabası aynı zamanda ülkesinin siyasi sürecinin bir parçasıdır ki, British Museum'un önemli eserlerinin getirilmesinde ünlü isimlerden biri olmuştur. Gezerken daha çok antik kalıntılar üzerine yoğunlaşmış olsa da -bu çalışmada örnekleri sunulan- İstanbul resimlerinde görüldüğü gibi, aslında çevresindeki her şeyi yazınsal ve görsel olarak kayıt altına almak istediği anlaşılmaktadır. 19. yüzyıl İngiliz neoklasik mimarların en büyüklerinden biri olarak anılan Cockerell, Yunan canlandırmacılığını (Greek Revival) kavramını ilk kez kullanan önemli bir mimarlık tarihçisi, tapınak mimarisinden izler taşıyan özgün tasarımlarıyla yüksek bir düzeyin mimarı olmuş, ayrıca akademisyen olarak yaptığı yayınlar ve konferanslarla da heykel ve mimarlık alanına büyük katkı sağlamıştır. Onun kariyerinden izlenildiği gibi Yunan-Roma kültürünün yeniden canlandırıldığı dönemde aydınlar, bilim adamları ve sanatçılar için geziler önemli bir basamak olmuş, bu kapsamda Osmanlı toprakları da araştırma inceleme alanı haline gelmiştir

This study was conducted to understand the effect of travel by an architect who was born in the late enlightenment age when Europe focused on neoclassical ideas and arts on the formation of his style and other causes for his advancement as a neoclassical architect. The accumulation of knowledge Cockerell acquired during his 7-year Grand Tour had a considerable influence on the formation of his style. His travels, archaeological research, restoration trials, pictures, scaled drawing, and journals provided him with fundamental knowledge important to an advancing architect in the field of Greek Revival, the last stage of neoclassicism. Examining the ancient remains directly during his travels in regions including the Ottoman territories largely supported his architectural style and formed his subsequent designs. The effort of Cockerell to do scientific research on the ancient period works and bring them to his country also contributed to the political progress of his country. Thus, he became a notable person for bringing the important pieces to the British Museum. Although he mostly focused on the ancient remains while traveling, he wanted to record everything around him literarily and visually as seen through the pictures of İstanbul, presented in the current study. Cockerell, who is remembered as one of the most prominent English neoclassical architects in the nineteenth century, became an important architectural historian who used the concept of the Greek Revival for the first time. He was an accomplished architect and his original designs contained the traces of temple architecture. He also made great contributions to the fields of sculpture and architecture through his publications and the conferences that he attended as an academic. As seen in his career, travels became an important step for intellectuals, scientists, and artists during the period when the GreekRoman culture was regenerated, and therefore, the Ottoman territories became a research area This study was conducted to understand the effect of travel by an architect who was born in the late enlightenment age when Europe focused on neoclassical ideas and arts on the formation of his style and other causes for his advancement as a neoclassical architect. The answers to the question, “How can one become a neoclassical architect?” or, considering the effect of his birth place, “How can one innately be a neoclassical architect?” may be given with the example of Cockerell’s career. Cockerell is widely known in England and there are many published studies related to his architectural designs. However, a Turkish publication that evaluates and introduces sources, documents, and pictures regarding his travel to Turkey in 1810 is important. Charles Robert Cockerell was educated by his father, Samuel Pepys Cockerell, an architect specializing in mansions and East Indian houses, beginning at age 16. During this time, he traveled to Wales and West England, kept a journal of his observations in the cities he traveled, and made drawings. After gaining these experiences at an early age, Cockerell worked with Robert Smirke who recently returned from Greece, which piqued his interest in architecture. Like his teacher, Smirke, Cockerell also wanted to travel to Greece/the East. The focus of such travels, which were common in those years and known as a Grand Tour, was the ancient architectural works, and Italy, Greece, and Turkey were the first countries which should be visited by those with this passion. The focal point of this study is the intellectual setting where Cockerell existed with his Grand Tour acquisitions. The accumulation of knowledge Cockerell acquired during his 7- year Grand Tour had a considerable influence on the formation of his style. His travels, archaeological research, restoration trials, pictures, scaled drawing, and journals provided him with fundamental knowledge important to an advancing architect in the field of Greek Revival, the last stage of neoclassicism. He passionately devoted time during his long travels to his meticulous work, which caused him to return home with rich achievements similar to his contemporaries. Examining the ancient remains directly during his travels in regions including the Ottoman territories largely supported his architectural style and formed his subsequent designs. Cockerell began his journey with his friend, John Foster, to see the ancient works in the regions of Anatolia such as Ionia, Lycia, Cilicia, Karamania, visited “Seven churches” in Asia, and researched the remains they saw throughout the journey. The places where they performed research included Side, Delos, Mykonos, Rodos, Athens, Crete, Çanakkale, Troy, Salonica, Heraklion, İstanbul, İzmir, Pergamon, Soma, Alaşehir, Hierapolis, Manisa, Ephesus, Kuşadası, Bodrum, Samos, Sardis, Priene, Knidos, Patara, Kekova, Demre, Phoenicia, Olympos, Antalya, Side, Silifke, Tarsus, Palermo, Morea, Ioannina, Naples, Malta, Albania, and Egypt. The effort of Cockerell to do scientific research on the ancient period works and bring them to his country also contributed to the political progress of his country. Thus, he became a notable person for bringing the important pieces to the British Museum. Although he mostly focused on the ancient remains while traveling, he wanted to record everything around him literarily and visually as seen through the pictures of İstanbul, presented in the current study. His journal and drawings demonstrate that he was very productive during his travels, did not abandon his research even under compelling circumstances, and spent long periods among the archaeological remains. Cockerell encountered an environment where the neoclassical ideas were discussed often, which increased his admiration for classical art. He “selected helpful friends” with whom he could exchange information in intellectual settings. Cockerell encountered painters reflecting the classical dimensions, purity, and simplicity of the new style in their portraits, such as Dominique Ingres. He also was close to people who idealized Greek culture, such as Lord Byron. As a result, many factors such as the environment where Cockerell grew up, the teachings from his father and Robert Smirke, the political relations causing him to go the East, the policy of his country, social culture, and being close to passionate and curious travelers like himself caused him to be a neoclassical architect. Because of these factors, Cockerell, who is remembered as one of the most prominent English neoclassical architects in the nineteenth century, became an important architectural historian who used the concept of the Greek Revival for the first time. He was an accomplished architect and his original designs contained the traces of temple architecture. He also made great contributions to the fields of sculpture and architecture through his publications and the conferences that he attended as an academic. As seen in his career, travels became an important step for intellectuals, scientists, and artists during the period when the Greek-Roman culture was regenerated, and therefore, the Ottoman territories became a research area.