Customer Reviews

Classical Language of Architecture (World of Art)

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This is the best way to learn about the classical sensibility in architecture -- as well as art and sculpture. Based on Summerson's radio lectures, this book has itself reached the status of being a classic! I assigned it for years, and students never failed to appreciate its brevity, insight and immediacy.

Very much worth the price of admission because it will forever open your eyes to the world of architectural forms and designs which refer to our common humanity. A necessary antidote to today's corrosive, diversity-oriented mentality.

I was introduced to this classic work in a course on Michelangelo by John Shearman at Harvard, and I'm writing this review because I'm convinced this book deserves wider distribution.

It's essentially an illustrated compilation of a series of lectures Summerson gave at university in England. The topic: the 'language' of architecture through the ages. Ever look at white marble columns, or that triangular thing over a window, and think how beautiful and elegant the display of forms was? Believe it or not, those styles are not created anew each time architects design a building! Rather, they draw on our rich common heritage - the 'classical language of architecture', first defined by Vasari in the 15th century (though in use since prehistoric times). That thing over the window is called a 'pediment', and columns can be Doric (stocky), Ionic (tall and graceful), or Corinthian (elaborated with flowery scroll-work at the top.) The triangular thing over a window is called a 'pediment'.

Intrigued? Want to know more about what the architects were thinking when they designed that building you're looking at? Buy this book, now!

Being about such a vaste theme, this book easily tells the most important parts of the history of architecture. Not much jargong, and well written overall!

In about 50 pages, Summerson manages to give the reader incredible insight and understanding of the history and evolution of Western Architecture.
Although I studied set design and have a broad knowledge of design, I had never formally studied architecture before reading this very short book (recommended to me by a professor or architecture) and it gave me the added knowledge to create an introductory course in the history of architecture for University theatre design students using this book as both structure and text. As a result, students left the course considering going to Architecture school for graduate degrees! It was a life saver - and I will never look at buildings the same way again.