The Great Houses of Paris

by Claude Frégnac, Fregnac, Wayne Andrews

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670349720
• ISBN13: 9780670349722
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Viking Press
• Length: 279 Pages
• Weight: 4.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Valuable Contribution To The History Of Architecture.

The Great Houses Of Paris is an exquisitely illustrated history of the grand town houses known as "Hotel Particuliers." They are considered to be the equivilent of the Italian Palazzi. This work examines their rise and near fall from the Middle Ages, through the Second Empire. All of them are now Historic Residences. Size was not a crucial criterion for these sumptous town houses to be designated "Hotel Particulier," but, rather an owner's rank and wealth. This work is most successful in tracing the social and political history in which these mansions survived. Indeed, many notables graced the grand salons, such as Thomas Jefferson, And Madame De Pompadour, and with this book we can get a glimpse into the past and how these people lived. Today, few of these grand houses remain in private hands, and many have been turned into luxurary apartments. Overall, A highly important work that makes a first-rate contribution to the history of Architecture.