VIOLLET-LE-DUC The French Gothic Revival

Eugene Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) French architect, artist and writer. Hewas the most prominent exponent of the Gothic revival in France, and wasinternationally celebrated for his restoration work upon historic Frenchbuildings. He studied architecture in Paris, traveled in Italy, andpainstakingly studied medieval monuments throughout France. Afterrestoring various churches and town halls in small towns of S France, hewas employed, with J.-B. A. Lassus, to restore the Sainte-Chapelle inParis. With Lassus he later did important work (1845-55) upon Notre-Damede Paris, including the design of the pulpit and a replacement for theoriginal central spire. His other important restorations include thecathedrals of Amiens, Chartres, and Reims; the château of Pierrefonds; andthe city of Carcassonne. Viollet-le-Duc wrote a number of books ofpermanent archaeological value, in which he emphasized the structurallyorganic and rational quality of Gothic edifices. This large formatsoftcover, English language edition is lavishly illustrated, with fullannotations and table of contents.