Die Villen von Venetien

by lauritzen-peter-und

Venice is known for the splendor of its architecture reflected in the shimmering waters of its canals. One of the richest aspects of this architecture heritage is to be found in the city's many palaces. They show a fascinating blend of local building conventions and the innovations of her distinctive architectures, and at the same time reveal the conservative traditions and extraordinary continuity of the ruling class. Although the palaces of Venice are an integral part of a uniquely beautiful city, now the focus of world-wide concern, there has been no extensively illustrated description of them in English. Peter Lauritzen, who has lived in Venice for more than a decade, takes the reader step by step through the stages of Venetian palace construction, and explains the peculiar characteristics of these large impressive buildings, built on the lagoon's mud-flat islands. The author begins with a summary of the stylistic development of Venetian domestic architecture and interior decoration, and then goes on to treat each of his selection of forty-five buildings to an individual history based on anecdote, legend, research and first-hand acquaintance with the buildings. Alexander Zielcke's brilliant photographs accompany the articles, and capture not only the essence of each building in its most characteristic detail, but also the atmosphere of the remarkable city which the palaces' rich facades have done so much to create. Many of the color illustrations show interiors never seen by the casual visitor to Venice and therefore provide invaluable documentation of the Venetian way of life.

200 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mark]

No rating at the moment cos I am just not sure what I would give it. It is much more than a coffee table book with lovely photos and I know that, just as I will continue to revisit books of poetry so I will revisit this book which, if it is not too pretentious to say, has a visual poetry to it.

It looks at forty five of the author's favourite palaces ornamenting the various canals and waterfronts of this wonderful city. History, anecdote, architectural specifics including the stone used and the various elements that go to make up these extraordinary buildings, all these elements go to create a fascinating book which demands dipping and quaffing rather than a full on banquet from start to finish. A better man or woman than myself would consume it all and be fine; I find i suffer from historic building overload and have to go and snack on something light and easy and return to feast at a later date.

If you love Venice; if you love a book to treat you with intelligence but not to assume too much; if you like findng out new facts and enjoy discovering new technical words and phrases which noone need ever know you have oh too swiftly forgotten again, then this is the book for you. Really lovely and my only sadness is the realization that as my copy is from 1978, I worry how much of this beauty has mouldered away into the lagoon since then.