Flight of Fancy: The Banishment and Return of Ornament - Hardcover

Brolin, Brent C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312296134 ISBN 13: 9780312296131

Publisher: St Martins Pr, 1985

Synopsis

Explains why architectural ornament fell out of favor in the twenties, suggests the reasons for its reappearance, and looks at the shortcomings of modern architecture

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

The role of ornamentation in architecture has varied through the centuries and its importance is intertwined with the history of art, the author convincingly points out. As painting became a respected art form during the Renaissance, the distinction between the fine and decorative arts widened, notes Brolin (The Failure of Modern Architecture, etc.), leaving ornamentation behind. He explains why Art Nouveau and earlier styles exhibit ornamental abandon, while during the modernist period, traditional ornamentation was minimizedonly to return in full force with the onset of post-modernism. His discussions range from the nature of art, beauty and genius to the influence of economics. Illustrations. December 11
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal:

Brolin, a practicing architect, takes a run through the history of ornament from the ancients to the present, arguing that the infusion of morality into questions of taste and design in the 19th and 20th centuries is an aberration in the universal human love of ornament. Thus, ornament has begun to regain legitimacy recently, appearing in the work of architects such as Robert Venturi. Although nowhere as thoughtful and complex as E. H. Gombrich's various studies on ornament, Brolin's illustrated text is a useful summary aimed at a generally informed audience. Jack Perry Brown, Art Inst. of Chicago Libs.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martins Pr
• Publication date: 1985
• ISBN 10: 0312296134
• ISBN 13: 9780312296131
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 338