Boullee'- a Paradoxical figure

Boullee seems to be one of the most influential figures in the French enlightenment movement. When one looks at the powerful Cenotaph drawings, the sublime nature of the space inside the spherical dome creates a sense of something otherworldly and mystical. The cenotaph captures the phenomelogical experience of the eternal. His use of light and shadow to create such utopian experiences could almost classify him as a Romantic. So then, should we classify him as a Romantic?

In Rosenau's Boullée’s Treatise on Architecture (1953), she noted “It would be erroneous, to classify Boullée as a Romantic, since his individualism was based on a reasoned appreciation of function, and ruled by the recognition of the laws of nature.”

His appreciation for function and the importance he placed on function and the idea of public spaces would certainly defy the notion of Boullee' being a romantic. Infact his obsession with symmetry and certain shapes, particularly the sphere go on to show his appreciation of pure and simple geometry. In all his theoretical projects, Boullee stresses upon the idea of the public domain and the importance of the character of the public space. Though his ideas stem from nature which may seem akin to romanticism his rationality reveals itself in how he perceives nature.

When articulating how nature would govern architectural principles, Boullée described symmetry as the image of order and clarity that conveyed a sense of beauty and perfection.  It allows the mind —which seeks understanding— to comprehend this natural external condition.  The proportion derived from nature, as he claimed, possesses an important function of beauty.  The simple, symmetrical, perfect and regular form for Boullée is the best iconographic representation of this understanding in nature.  It is clear that Boullée acted upon the hypothesis that there is a rational correlation between simple geometry and nature.

I find that his rationality and reason juxtaposes to create a sense of the fantastical experience that could easily be a romantic ideal.