Customer Reviews

The Architecture of the Eighteenth Century (World of Art)

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This is a useful opening survey of the architecture of this period. It is now quite old and has been largely superseded by numerous individual studies of buildings, period, and architects (including, for example, recent treatments of Ledoux and Boullée). It is basically satisfactory on the primary stylistic trends of the period but privileges English architecture a little too highly. The partition of the eighteenth century into basically Baroque and Neo-Classical, while conceded to be too widely drawn, means that some things fall through the cracks - Roman architecture of the first half of the eighteenth century receives poor exposure (actually, Italian architecture is treated in scant detail) as does the origins of the Picturesque movement, which was influential in the Gothic revival. As usual, Summerson writes in a friendly, jargon free style suitable for lovers of this period in architectural history.

The book is in perfect condition. There are no marks in it. The cover and spine were in perfect condition. It arrived at my house in a timely fashion.