- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Garden Art Press (15 Mar 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1870673565
- ISBN-13: 978-1870673563
- Product Dimensions: 29.5 x 25.6 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 404,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Review
"A highly readable and truly enjoyable book." Gardens and People, March 2010
Product Description
From the magical, ambitious charm of Portmeirion in North-West Wales, to the marvellous eccentricity of La Scarzuola of Montegabbione, Umbria, with its musical staircase and transparent pyramid, this book explores follies, extravagant structures erected for amusement or diversion - and occasionally for the residence - of inspired patrons and artists throughout Europe. Chosen by photographer Nic Barlow, this selection has been assembled not only to demonstrate their charm, diversity and invention, but also to celebrate those that are unexpected, overlooked or little known. A comprehensive introductory text by Tim Knox brings together many themes - style, genres, politics, social history, the personality of the architects - and examines the national differences between follies. In addition to stunning colour photographs, entries for each folly are accompanied by fascinating descriptive texts which include historical and architectural details.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A trip around the world not on your calendar? No worries. With a copy of this abundantly pictured (400 color illustrations) volume you can visit some of the most spectacular, most extravagant buildings to be found. Nic Barlow's glorious photographs give you better than a bird's eye view with details and close-ups never seen through a tour bus window.
Yes, the structures included in this volume are spectacular and extravagant, yet they are unique in another way as Tim Cox notes in his eloquent introduction, These follies are ..."raised for the amusement or diversion - and occasionally for the residence - of inspired patrons and artists throughout Europe......Created by popes and plutocrats, princes and postmen, these buildings stand today as mute testimony to their patrons' taste and discrimination, their passions and peculiarities."
That they certainly do, but what is perhaps almost equally fascinating are the stories that these buildings tell. There is the Rushton Triangular Lodge built in 1593 by an Edwardian gentleman, Thomas Tresham, who converted to Catholicism in 1580. Constructed on the basis of an equilateral triangle, it represents the Holy Trinity with an angelic host under the roof , and the upper story at 33 feet wide represents the age at which Jesus Christ was crucified.
Quite a different sight is found with the Villa Torrigiani in Italy which was transformed from a Tuscan villa to the very latest Baroque style, highly ornamented, boosting a parade of statues in the niches of its facade.
Who will not be amazed and amused by what is thought to be the most outre building Scotland? Dunmore House is home to a pavilion topped by a 37 foot high stone pineapple.
And so it goes with each of the 256 pages revealing one more wonder and another intriguing story.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
Yes, the structures included in this volume are spectacular and extravagant, yet they are unique in another way as Tim Cox notes in his eloquent introduction, These follies are ..."raised for the amusement or diversion - and occasionally for the residence - of inspired patrons and artists throughout Europe......Created by popes and plutocrats, princes and postmen, these buildings stand today as mute testimony to their patrons' taste and discrimination, their passions and peculiarities."
That they certainly do, but what is perhaps almost equally fascinating are the stories that these buildings tell. There is the Rushton Triangular Lodge built in 1593 by an Edwardian gentleman, Thomas Tresham, who converted to Catholicism in 1580. Constructed on the basis of an equilateral triangle, it represents the Holy Trinity with an angelic host under the roof , and the upper story at 33 feet wide represents the age at which Jesus Christ was crucified.
Quite a different sight is found with the Villa Torrigiani in Italy which was transformed from a Tuscan villa to the very latest Baroque style, highly ornamented, boosting a parade of statues in the niches of its facade.
Who will not be amazed and amused by what is thought to be the most outre building Scotland? Dunmore House is home to a pavilion topped by a 37 foot high stone pineapple.
And so it goes with each of the 256 pages revealing one more wonder and another intriguing story.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Not just a coffee table book, but one to read too! some lovely quirky buildings beautifully photographed, often from above, which has certainly inspired my partner and I to go and find a few on our travels. If you like the history of architecture - you'll love this book!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
SPECTACULAR AND EXTRAVAGANT? OH, YES!
11 Aug 2008
Format:Hardcover
A trip around the world not on your calendar? No worries. With a copy of this abundantly pictured (400 color illustrations) volume you can visit some of the most spectacular, most extravagant buildings to be found. Nic Barlow's glorious photographs give you better than a bird's eye view with details and close-ups never seen through a tour bus window.
Yes, the structures included in this volume are spectacular and extravagant, yet they are unique in another way as Tim Cox notes in his eloquent introduction, These follies are ..."raised for the amusement or diversion - and occasionally for the residence - of inspired patrons and artists throughout Europe......Created by popes and plutocrats, princes and postmen, these buildings stand today as mute testimony to their patrons' taste and discrimination, their passions and peculiarities."
That they certainly do, but what is perhaps almost equally fascinating are the stories that these buildings tell. There is the Rushton Triangular Lodge built in 1593 by an Edwardian gentleman, Thomas Tresham, who converted to Catholicism in 1580. Constructed on the basis of an equilateral triangle, it represents the Holy Trinity with an angelic host under the roof , and the upper story at 33 feet wide represents the age at which Jesus Christ was crucified.
Quite a different sight is found with the Villa Torrigiani in Italy which was transformed from a Tuscan villa to the very latest Baroque style, highly ornamented, boosting a parade of statues in the niches of its facade.
Who will not be amazed and amused by what is thought to be the most outre building Scotland? Dunmore House is home to a pavilion topped by a 37 foot high stone pineapple.
And so it goes with each of the 256 pages revealing one more wonder and another intriguing story.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
Yes, the structures included in this volume are spectacular and extravagant, yet they are unique in another way as Tim Cox notes in his eloquent introduction, These follies are ..."raised for the amusement or diversion - and occasionally for the residence - of inspired patrons and artists throughout Europe......Created by popes and plutocrats, princes and postmen, these buildings stand today as mute testimony to their patrons' taste and discrimination, their passions and peculiarities."
That they certainly do, but what is perhaps almost equally fascinating are the stories that these buildings tell. There is the Rushton Triangular Lodge built in 1593 by an Edwardian gentleman, Thomas Tresham, who converted to Catholicism in 1580. Constructed on the basis of an equilateral triangle, it represents the Holy Trinity with an angelic host under the roof , and the upper story at 33 feet wide represents the age at which Jesus Christ was crucified.
Quite a different sight is found with the Villa Torrigiani in Italy which was transformed from a Tuscan villa to the very latest Baroque style, highly ornamented, boosting a parade of statues in the niches of its facade.
Who will not be amazed and amused by what is thought to be the most outre building Scotland? Dunmore House is home to a pavilion topped by a 37 foot high stone pineapple.
And so it goes with each of the 256 pages revealing one more wonder and another intriguing story.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
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