In 1822, as a young man, he had experienced Karl Friedrich Schinkel's classicism in Germany and France and had met the German-born architect and archaeologist Franz Gau who introduced him to the colourful architecture of antiquity.
Som ung mand i 1822, havde han oplevet Karl Friedrich Schinkels klassicisme i Tyskland og Frankrig, og mødte den tyskfødte arkitekt og arkæolog Franz Christian Gau, der introducerede for den farverige arkitektur fra antikken.