Sullivan's City: The Meaning of Ornament for Louis Sullivan [Hardcover]

David Van Zanten (Author), Cervin Robinson (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Norton Books for Architects & Designers | Publication Date: August 28, 2000

An interpretive essay about a much-admired genius of American architecture, with an emphasis on the meaning of ornament in his work and life

Among many books about the person and work of Louis Sullivan, this unusual volume explores the idea that Sullivan's ornament became increasingly central to his architectural enterprise as his career unfolded. It holds that he used ornament to articulate the masses of the skyscrapers he built at the peak of his career and to humanize them in an increasingly hostile cityscape. In his impoverished old age, when important commissions no longer came to him, fully developed and exquisite pencil drawings of ornament served as a surrogate for the great projects he was no longer able to carry out. Cervin Robinson's beautiful photographs of Sullivan's work, supplemented by historical photographs of buildings no longer standing and reproductions of plates from Sullivan's crowning achievement, his book of drawings System of Architectural Ornament, illustrate the text by art historian David Van Zanten. Illustrations, photographs, plans

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Van Zanten lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Cervin Robinson lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (August 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393730387
• ISBN-13: 978-0393730388
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,011,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Master of Ornamentation, November 17, 2010

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Patrick Curren "The no self" (The Happy Dream) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sullivan's City: The Meaning of Ornament for Louis Sullivan (Hardcover)

This book does a good job of covering Louis Sullivan's career as an ornamental architect. The photographs are very clear and detailed; many are in color. If you have studied Frank Furness, you will see his influence on Louis Sullivan's work. If you have studied Frank Lloyd Wright, you will see Louis Sullivan's influence on FLW. Contrary to the author's opinion, if you have studied classical architecture or the Beaux-Arts you will recognize the influence on Louis Sullivan in spite of his contemporary application of classical architecture principles. I must admit though I loved this book, there were several moments where I could not follow the author's theories associated with Louis Sullivan's architecture or ornamentation; it gets complicated. I have always wondered why Louis Sullivan ran out of work after building masterpiece skyscrapers. The author's explanation is that his partner Alder and FLW left the firm. That doesn't make sense to me. A more plausible explanation would be that ornamentation of a Sullivan scale on skyscrapers is simply too expensive; which is why the International style as hideous as it was and is became so successful. It was cost effective. FLW himself had to abandon the Prairie style because of this; thus Falling Water. One thing is for certain, no matter what Sullivan built, except for his houses, his works were and are stunning/enjoyable. Eleven plates of Sullivan's "A System of Architectural Ornament" are included in the last chapter. The work was the last to be completed by Sullivan. These plates show that Sullivan was not only of sound mind at the end of his life but a genius. He is the master of ornamentation.