Merchant Prince and Master Builder - Hardcover

There is no shortage of books about Wright, popularly recognized as America's greatest architect. But this catalog, produced for an exhibition at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Art, manages to provide a slightly new and intriguing perspective on the last decades of the "master builder's" career. Among the catalog's original offerings is an insightful essay by architectural historian Cleary on Wright's relationship to the Kaufmann family in the context of contemporary design, commerce, and urban planning in the 20th century. Central to the catalog is also, of course, a collection of drawings from Wright's studio. And included in the splendid selection of reproductions are unbuilt proposals for Fallingwater and visionary projects for Pittsburgh's Point Park. The quality of reproduction is generally fine, but the necessary reduction in scale may have viewers reaching for a strong magnifying glass. Essential for libraries specializing in American art and architecture; libraries with general collections should be sure to have Edgar Kaufmann Jr.'s lavishly illustrated Fallingwater: A Frank Lloyd Wright Country House (LJ 2/1/87).ADavid Soltesz, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OH
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