Visionary Architects. Boullee Ledoux Lequeu

This is a very good softcover copy with almost no wear. Completely clean inside. Spine not creased. This catalog represents the first exhibition of the work of these visionary 18th century French architects in the United States. The exhibition originated in 1964 at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, and was a sensation. Subsequently the exhibition was a bit expanded and circulated in America, where it was shown in Houston, St.Louis, San Francisco, and also at the Art Institute in Chicago and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Foreword by Dominique de Menil. Poem by Louis Kahn. Text by Lemagny expanded and revised from the original catalog. Lemagny was the curator who selected the drawings and arranged the first exhibition. So familiar to us now, we forget that Boullee, a Professor of Architecture at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, only built a few buildings, nothing like these drawings and probably only used these drawings as aides to his teaching, if at all. They were found in the mid 20th century at the Bibliotheque Nationale along with a manuscript by him. Lequeu hardly fared any better, after a career as a cartographer, he tried to interest people in his architectural visions, but in vain. Ledoux was a prominent architect with many buildings to his credit but these drawings represent the visionary side of his work: cenotaphs, mausoleums, monuments, etc. 148 works in the exhibition, illustrated in black & white. Extensive bibliography. 9" square, 240 pages. This book will be securely wrapped and shipped with tracking.