Wren's "Tracts" on Architecture and Other Writings is the first scholarly examination of the theoretical work of one of the most important architects of early modern Europe. From his study of ancient buildings, he posited a new version of the origins and development of the Classical style, thereby becoming one of the first to challenge theoretical principles of architecture that had been upheld since the Renaissance. Rejecting the idea of beauty as absolute and innate, Wren formulated an empirical definition, based on visual perception and custom.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Buy $50 in qualifying physical textbooks, get $5 in Amazon MP3 Credit. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...this collection provides an engaging representation of a perceptive and inventive mind at work." Paul Malo, International Journal of the Classical Tradition
"[Soo] is to be congratulated on bringing the writings of Wren back into print and in so doing helping to bring this elusive man into sharper focus." John Bold, Albion
"...invaluable..." James Fenton, New York Review of Books
"[Soo] is to be congratulated on bringing the writings of Wren back into print and in so doing helping to bring this elusive man into sharper focus." John Bold, Albion
"...invaluable..." James Fenton, New York Review of Books
Book Description
Wren's "Tracts" on Architecture and Other Writings is the first scholarly examination of the theoretical work of one of the most important architects of early modern Europe. From his study of ancient buildings, he posited a new version of the origins and development of the Classical style, thereby becoming one of the first to challenge theoretical principles of architecture that had been upheld since the Renaissance. Rejecting the idea of beauty as absolute and innate, Wren formulated an empirical definition, based on visual perception and custom.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wren's 'Tracts' - a wonderful compendium of Primary Sources,
This review is from: Wren's 'Tracts' on Architecture and Other Writings (Hardcover)
In this work Prof. Soo has collected the surviving writings of Wren on architecture. These, for the serious student, are invaluable, and here they are collected together in one volume for the first time, at least in modern times.Covering such topics as London's antiquities, Reports on Gothic churches, Church architecture in general, and the tracts themselves, Soo's work gives the reader a rare chance to 'get into the mind' of one of the greatest minds ever to have existed. Soo's annotations shed much light on Wren's own writings (many of which were actually transcribed by Wren' own son). Much has been written about Britain's most famous architect, but very few have attempted to get 'under the bonnet' (hood) of the Great Man - and here Soo has succeeded. Copiously illustrated with Wren's own drawings and many contemporary illustrations, the book can be thoroughly recommended. A magnificent effort.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
To have a right Idea of London of old, it will be necessary to consider the State of the Britains, at the Time the Romans made their first Descent on the Island; and surely we cannot reasonably think them so barbarous, at least in that Age, (and the Accounts before that, are too fabulous) as is commonly believ'd. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
customary causes, lightest manner, geometrical appearance, architectural engravings, biblical buildings, fifty new churches, geometrical beauty, optical adjustments, past architecture, geometrical reasons, inner dome, attic story, domed rotunda, cross vault, parochial churches, various inventions, architectural treatises, lateral thrust, empirical definition Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Royal Society, Salisbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Francis Price, Temple of Diana, Temple of Solomon, Source Original, University of Illinois Library, John Aubrey, Other Manuscript Versions, Paul's Cathedral, Temple of Mars Ultor, The Life of Sir Christopher Wren, Wenceslas Hollar, Photo Courtesy of The Newberry Library, Robert Hooke, Temple of Peace, William Dugdale, All Souls College, Dorick Order, John Evelyn, Reasons of Opticks, Andrea Palladio, Ionick Order, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
To have a right Idea of London of old, it will be necessary to consider the State of the Britains, at the Time the Romans made their first Descent on the Island; and surely we cannot reasonably think them so barbarous, at least in that Age, (and the Accounts before that, are too fabulous) as is commonly believ'd. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
customary causes, lightest manner, geometrical appearance, architectural engravings, biblical buildings, fifty new churches, geometrical beauty, optical adjustments, past architecture, geometrical reasons, inner dome, attic story, domed rotunda, cross vault, parochial churches, various inventions, architectural treatises, lateral thrust, empirical definition Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Royal Society, Salisbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Francis Price, Temple of Diana, Temple of Solomon, Source Original, University of Illinois Library, John Aubrey, Other Manuscript Versions, Paul's Cathedral, Temple of Mars Ultor, The Life of Sir Christopher Wren, Wenceslas Hollar, Photo Courtesy of The Newberry Library, Robert Hooke, Temple of Peace, William Dugdale, All Souls College, Dorick Order, John Evelyn, Reasons of Opticks, Andrea Palladio, Ionick Order, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 64
books:
See all 64 books this book cites
- The Architecture of Wren by Kerry Downes on 6 pages
- Monumenta Britannica by John Aubrey on 5 pages
- A Survey of London: Reprinted from the text of 1603 2 volumes (Oxford Scholarly Classics) by John Stow on 4 pages
- The Mathematical Science of Christopher Wren by J. A. Bennett on 4 pages
- Ancients and Moderns (Washington University Studies.) by Richard Foster Jones in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
See all 64 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
![A World History of Architecture [1st Ed.]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V0kQBdRjL._BO01,224,223,220_SY120_SH20_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon}
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
