The Foundations of Architecture: Selections from the Dictionnaire Raisonne

by Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc

Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) is widely recognized as the most astute and influential architectural theorist of his era. His greatest work is the ten-volume Descriptive dictionary of French architecture from the 11th to the 16th century (Dictionnaire raisonne de l'architecture francaise du XIeme au XVIeme siecle) . For the first time, the four most important essays have been collected and translated into English. These essays treat the history of French architecture, the principles of construction, the relationship between style and architecture, and the art of restoration. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1990

About the author

Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc was a French architect and theorist, famous for his "restorations" of medieval buildings. Born in Paris, he was as central a figure in the Gothic Revival in France as he was in the public discourse on "honesty" in architecture, which eventually transcended all revival styles, to inform the emerging spirit of Modernism.