The Architectural Designs of William Burges

First edition, first printing. xxii, plus 75 lithograph plates and plans (including frontispiece), of which four fold-out to make larger images. In red cloth-covered boards with gilt decoration and lettering front and spine. Small folio. Boards moderately rubbed and rounded at corners and spine ends, a few mild marks. Hint of toning to text block edges. Front and rear hinges neatly reinforced. A little spotting on endpapers; previous owner’s name on front free endpaper, dated 1884. Gutter cracked ahead of final leaf, which itself is a little toned. The occasional small and faint mark on pages. Burges (1827-1881) was an architect and designer of the mid 19th century; one of the greatest Victorian art-architects, his work reflected his desire to escape the industrialisation and urbanisation of Victorian England and rejection of the prevalent neoclassical style in favour of the styles and values of a Utopian version of rural medieval England, in keeping with the Gothic Revival. This volume presents magnificently a selection of his designs and plans. Although his architectural output was small – and his life short – among his most notable commissions were Cardiff Castle; Castell Coch; Gayhurst House in Buckinghamshire; Knightshayes Court; the Church of Christ the Consoler; St Mary’s at Studley Royal in Yorkshire and Park House, Cardiff. A very hard to find title.

Architecture, Design, Plans, Architectural Drawing, Gothic Revival, Studley Royal, Cardiff Castle, Yorkshire, Wales, William Burges,