An Album of Maya Architecture [Paperback]

Tatiana Proskouriakoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1976

With the imagination of an artist and the precision of a scientist, Tatiana Proskouriakoff has captured in pictures thirty-six restorations of magnificent Maya buildings as their builders saw the scenes more than a thousand years ago. Facing her painting of each structure is a documented text of archaeological findings and a line drawing of the existing remains. First issued by the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 1946, this important volume is returned to print in a new format by the University of Oklahoma Press.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tatiana Proskouriakoff, staff member in archaeology at the Carnegie Institution and research fellow of the Peabody Museum, received her degree in architecture from Pennsylvania State College. She is the author of A Study of Classic Maya Sculpture and junior author of Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (April 15, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806113510
• ISBN-13: 978-0806113517
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,277,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Drawings, September 19, 2003

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: An Album of Maya Architecture (Native American) (Paperback)

There are currently two versions of this beautiful book available that does a marvelous job of recreating the Maya world. The one entitled "An Album of Maya Architecture"(the other version has no An in the title) is published by Dover and is unabridged and is therefore a rebulication of the original published by the Carnegie Instition of Washington D.C. in 1946. This book is a labor of love by Tatiana Proskouriakoff whose excellent illustrations will and have stood the test of time. In the acknowledgement the author gives credit to all who made this project possible as there are several unpublished drawings and notes that were put at her disposal. Having visited the great temples of the Maya in Copan(Honduras), Guatemala and the Yucatan(Mexico) I can bear testament to their magnificent presence in the jungles. Buried for years in the jungles they have only "resurfaced" recently for archeologists to study and preserve for future generations. In this book the author takes the liberty of informing us of the uses of the various temples based on her extensive knowledge and field research. Since many of the building have deteriorated with the passing centuries,Tatiana Proskouriakoff mastefully recreates the buildings as they were, based on her studies. Her lively depiction of the famous Ball Court is in stark contrast to the actual court that is desolate with only tourists and the spirits of the skillfull atheletes who once graced the courts. The black and whilte illustrations are simple yet lavish in certain details. Each section or chapter comes complete with text explaining the visual and begins with an elaborate illustration of a particular part of the site in full rich detail.This is a beautiful book that anyone who is interested in the ancient Maya should have in their library. The author also suggests other books and works to compliment the study of the complex world of the mysterious Maya.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful drawings, August 4, 2002

By 

"mayanfan" (MARTINEZ, BUENOS AIRES Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Album of Maya Architecture (Paperback)

A very nice and useful book.Throughout 29 plates Tania covers from Early Classic to Postclassic,from Uaxactun to Chichen-Itzá, showing many buildings and structures.According to her time,this Proskouriakoff's masterpiece displays highly accurated B&W drawings, plenty of details and suggestive forms, bringing to light Maya history not only from the jungle, but also from the obscurity of past. As the back cover says, her work combines "the imagination of an artist and the precision of a scientist". A great book by a great mayanist.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Drawings, September 30, 2008

By 

Gustavo Gallegos - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Album of Maya Architecture (Native American) (Paperback)

If you are interested in Maya Architecture this is a must!
Great talent! Very accurate.