Overview

Raphael Soriano (1907-88) was one of the early Case Study architects working in post-war Los Angeles and a talented advocate of the new building materials and construction techniques developed at the time. A significant member of this informal gang of architects that also included Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, Eero Saarinen, Richard Neutra and Craig Ellwood, though not as familiar a name now, Soriano was a major influence on his colleagues and was rediscovered by today's practitioners for his highly innovative use of steel and aluminum and his early interest in low-cost, prefabricated structures. This is the first ever monograph on Soriano, providing a comprehensive study of the architect's life and oeuvre. It includes detailed descriptions of 30 key Soriano buildings, and a list of Complete Works that documents for the first time every known project in Soriano's archive. More than 20 of Soriano's buildings have been destroyed and many others remodelled beyond recognition; this book offers the sole published record of these important works.

Full Product Details

9780714840635

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Reviews

'a superbly produced book, sumptuously illustrated and written in clear prose without any of the overtly academic language, so often now found in books on art and its history, that can be so off-putting to the non-specialist. ... presents in a fresh and eminently readable style a comprehensive reworking of his life, career, the social milieu within which he moved, and the political and dynastic motivations for many of his illustrious patrons. ... The chapter on the Vatican Stanze is outstanding, giving lucid and detailed descriptions of some of the greatest paintings in Western Europe. ... it is the illustrations that make this an outstanding book. They are truly magnificent. ... The illustrations of the many 'mother and child' works allows for an extended discussion on how Raphael developed this massively important aspect of Renaissance painting. Many have described these works as formulaic, but the analysis there gives lucid clarity to them, allowing for a fresh reinterpretation of some of his greatest masterpieces. The chapter on Raphael's drawings and workshop techniques is amongst the best in an outstanding book. ... I strongly recommend [Raphael] to anyone interested in the Italian Renaissance - for those with a keen interest, this book is surely a must.' Bob Baggs

'a superbly produced book, sumptuously illustrated and written in clear prose without any of the overtly academic language, so often now found in books on art and its history, that can be so off-putting to the non-specialist. … presents in a fresh and eminently readable style a comprehensive reworking of his life, career, the social milieu within which he moved, and the political and dynastic motivations for many of his illustrious patrons. … The chapter on the Vatican Stanze is outstanding, giving lucid and detailed descriptions of some of the greatest paintings in Western Europe. … it is the illustrations that make this an outstanding book. They are truly magnificent. … The illustrations of the many 'mother and child' works allows for an extended discussion on how Raphael developed this massively important aspect of Renaissance painting. Many have described these works as formulaic, but the analysis there gives lucid clarity to them, allowing for a fresh reinterpretation of some of his greatest masterpieces. The chapter on Raphael's drawings and workshop techniques is amongst the best in an outstanding book. … I strongly recommend [Raphael] to anyone interested in the Italian Renaissance - for those with a keen interest, this book is surely a must.' Bob Baggs

'a superbly produced book, sumptuously illustrated and written in clear prose without any of the overtly academic language, so often now found in books on art and its history, that can be so off-putting to the non-specialist. ... presents in a fresh and eminently readable style a comprehensive reworking of his life, career, the social milieu within which he moved, and the political and dynastic motivations for many of his illustrious patrons. ... The chapter on the Vatican Stanze is outstanding, giving lucid and detailed descriptions of some of the greatest paintings in Western Europe. ... it is the illustrations that make this an outstanding book. They are truly magnificent. ... The illustrations of the many 'mother and child' works allows for an extended discussion on how Raphael developed this massively important aspect of Renaissance painting. Many have described these works as formulaic, but the analysis there gives lucid clarity to them, allowing for a fresh reinterpretation of some of his greatest masterpieces. The chapter on Raphael's drawings and workshop techniques is amongst the best in an outstanding book. ... I strongly recommend [Raphael] to anyone interested in the Italian Renaissance - for those with a keen interest, this book is surely a must.' Bob Baggs

Author Information

Wolfgang Wagener is an architect who has written numerous articles on twentieth-century modern architecture. Since 1997 he has been Visiting Professor at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

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