Gothic Architecture (History of World Architecture)

By Louis Grodecki

Book Overview

A study of the architectural style that dominated European buildings for more than four hundred years examines the constructional and aesthetic characteristics of the most magnificent creations.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847804739
• ISBN13: 9780847804733
• Release Date: June 1985
• Publisher: Rizzoli
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 2.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.8" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A pictorial "Ferrari" of history of architecture books

A part of the series History of World Architecture originally published by Electa in Italian in 1971-7 under a general editorship of Pier Luigi Nervi, it was translated to English and published by Abrams in 1971-80 in b & w only, but at 10 x 11 1/4 inches. Subsequently, the series was reedited, shrunk to 8 5/8 x 9 1/2 inches, and published by Electa / Rizzoli in 1985-9 with a few color photos added including each front cover. In the early 2000's, the series was reissued by Phaidon unchanged except for the front cover photo. It is a pictorial "Ferrari" of history of architecture books. Almost every page contains one or - usually - more than one illustration as photo, plan, section, elevation, axonometric view, etc. of the highest quality. They depict the best examples of topical architecture covering the most significant ones. The text was written by one of the best experts in the field. While relatively concise, it still is comprehensive and complete enough even for students of architecture. (440 black & white illustrations, including 69 diagrams, floor plans, and reconstructions, in the Abrams edition.) TABLE OF CONTENTS (Abrams edition): PREFACE by Pier Luigi Nervi 5 CHAPTER I Definitions and Theories / Historical and Physical Circumstances 9 CHAPTER II Gothic Architecture in the Twelfth Century 36 CHAPTER III The Classical Age of Gothic Architecture 107 CHAPTER IV Regional Styles: England 192 CHAPTER V Gothic in Germany and the Holy Roman Empire 251 CHAPTER VI Gothic in Italy and the Iberian Peninsula 319 CHAPTER VII Conclusion 393 SYNOPTIC TABLES 407 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 423 INDEX 428 LIST OF PLATES 437 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS 442 (Rizzoli edition): Chapter I DEFINITIONS AND THEORIES / HISTORICAL AND PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCES 7 Chapter II GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY 23 Chapter III THE CLASSICAL AGE OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE 56 Chapter IV REGIONAL STYLES: ENGLAND 97 Chapter V GOTHIC IN GERMANY AND THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE 123 Chapter VI GOTHIC IN ITALY AND THE IBERIAN PENINSULA 154 Chapter VII CONCLUSION 198 INDEX 213 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS 223