CURRENT READING: An Illustrated History of Interior Decoration: from Pompeii to Art Nouveau : Mario Praz

"An Illustrated History Of Interior Decoration " by Mario Praz is an epic!

TI might as well come out of the closet: a leather lined one in the perfect tone of tan , originally convened by Jean Michel Frank to be specific.Even more than I love the proposition of clothes, I love the proposition of a beautiful room. As such, Mario Praz's legendary tome on the subject of interior decoration is like the mother of all design bibles, even if inadvertently so. How this eminently erudite Professor of English Literature came to be an icon in the pantheon of interior design is quite the twist. The condensed explanation is this grand master of 19th century cultural history sought to trace the spirit of that time not only in terms of the work of the great Romantic writers of that era, but also in the objects left behind from the epoch. As such "An Illustrated History" cheats away from being a comprehensive encyclopedia of design styles to being an reflection of Praz's obsession with Neo-Classicism (whether in its Empire, Regency or Biedermeir incarnations). The true genius of the book is Praz's choice of paintings and watercolors from the period under discussion to illustrate how the people of that time lived in those rooms. As such "Illustrated History" has been the secret weapon of many a high-priced interior decorator as well as Hollywood set designer. For me what was amazing was the chance to glimpse rooms like the study of Alexander I of Russia or the bedrooms at the Rothschild's legendary French estate, Château de Ferrières. Reference Library must have. Period.

"An Illustrated History Of Interior Decoration " by Mario Praz is an epic!

"An Illustrated History Of interior Decoration " by Mario Praz is an epic!