Customer Reviews

Palladio

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3 star:		(2)
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For the price this is a good book with an abundance of photographs, unfortunately the quality of the photograph's reproduction is somewhat grainy. I bought this book after having visited some of Palladio's villas and wanted a visual remembrance of the interiors since I was not allowed to take interior pictures so for that purpose and price I'm happy with it.

First I would like to issue a warning. This book was firstly published in 1989 with a slightly different title (solely 'Palladio'). The addition of 'The complete buildnings' is misleading in two ways. It indicates that this is a different book than the 1989-version. But more severly, it promises a look at all his buildings. This is not the case here since there are dozens of omitted buildings that some researches claim are by Palladio and later changed or completed by other architects or simply lost over the centuries (there exists however such a book that tries to be complete and that is 'Andera Palladio - The Complete Works' by Lionelleo Puppi from Electa 1975, in Italian 1973).
This said it is good value for your money. The text is short and informative in a easy-reading way. The selection of photos is generally well done. Exteriors and interiors and the original plan of each building. Palaces and villas as well as churches. A few photos are somewhat grainy (to enlarged, yes we do notice), but most are fairly good and give you a pretty good impression of the architecture an how the are located in the surroundings. As a first look at or guide to Palladios masterpieces it serves it purpose. Is your curiosity not satisfied you can move on to some of the many other books on Palladio.
(Written by a Palladio fan who bicycled among the villas to see them all one summer)

A very interesting and good summary of Palladio's major accomplishments.The value on this is incredible.

Hats off once again to Taschen for assembling such a comprehensive, affordable and beautiful book on the work of this great Italian architect.