The New York Times bestselling, award winning story of the construction of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and the Renaissance genius who reinvented architecture to build it.On August 19, 1418, a competition concerning Florence's magnificent new cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore was announced: "Whoever desires to make any model or design for the vaulting of the main Dome....shall do so before the end of the month of September." The proposed dome was regarded far and wide as all but impossible to build: not only would it be enormous, but its original and sacrosanct design shunned the flying buttresses that supported cathedrals all over Europe. The dome would literally need to be erected over thin air.Of the many plans submitted, one stood out--a daring and unorthodox solution to vaulting what is still the largest dome in the world. It was offered not by a master mason or carpenter, but by a goldsmith and clockmaker named Filippo Brunelleschi, then forty-one, who would dedicate the next twenty-eight years to solving the puzzles of the dome's construction. In the process, he reinvented the field of architecture.Brunelleschi's Dome is the story of how a Renaissance genius bent men, materials, and the very forces of nature to build an architectural wonder we continue to marvel at today. Award-winning, bestselling author Ross King weaves this drama amid a background of the plagues, wars, political feuds, and the intellectual ferments of Renaissance Florence to bring the dome's creation to life in a fifteenth-century chronicle with twenty-first-century resonance. Read more

"The wonderful cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the greatest achievements of European civilization, was on fire. The sight dazed and disturbed us profoundly. I was on the edge of tears. Something priceless was dying in front of our eyes. The feeling was bewildering, as if the earth was shaking." (Ken Follett)"[A] treasure of a book." (The New Yorker)In this short, spellbinding book, international best-selling author Ken Follett describes the emotions that gripped him when he learned about the fire that threatened to destroy one of the greatest cathedrals in the world - the Notre-Dame de Paris. Follett then tells the story of the cathedral, from its construction to the role it has played across time and history, and he reveals the influence that the Notre-Dame had upon cathedrals around the world and on the writing of one of Follett's most famous and beloved novels, The Pillars of the Earth.Ken Follett will donate his proceeds from this book to the charity La Fondation du Patrimoine. Read more

The acclaimed best-selling author and popular historian explores the history of Europe via its cathedrals.Beautifully illustrated with color photographs throughout, this joyous exploration of the history of Western civilization showcases the cathedral’s central role in the European imagination. A masterful writer, Jenkins tells the stories behind these stone wonders: the architects that made them possible, the triumphs of engineering, the artists who enriched their décor, and the inevitable human follies of those who were involved in their building, from the artisans and workers to the wealthy donors and the faithful who worshipped beneath their soaring spires and majestic domes. Simon Jenkins is the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of best-selling works that make history accessible. Blending insight and authority with personal reflections and experiences, he deftly reveals the history, design, and significance of each of these enduring monuments to the human spirit from popular favorites like St. Paul’s and the Duomo in Florence to less well-known masterpieces well worth a trip. Europe’s cathedrals are treasure troves of art and repositories of history that attract hundreds or thousands of visitors every year. Read more

A visual pilgrimage through holy mountains, great pyramids, primeval burial grounds, and soaring cathedrals of light—this book reveals the ways we transform the world around us through ritual, creativity, and worship. It features essays, interviews, and more than 400 images, ranging from ancient temples to contemporary works of modern land art. Read more

Spending his weekends exploring historic churches across the idyllic English countryside – and sharing their beauty and unsung history across social media – Luke Sherlock is bringing English history and the heritage of our rural countryside to a new audience. England is full of incredible churches, from small stone chapels and quiet Romanesque masterpieces, to thousand-year-old Saxon stalwarts, dramatic Gothic monuments and high Victorian treasures. These special places, often under-celebrated and overlooked, dot the English landscape but collectively tell a remarkable story of our nation. Travelling to all corners of England – from the Kent marshlands to the Norfolk fens, Somerset lanes and beyond – Sherlock carefully documents these unique buildings, celebrating their histories and decoding their hidden meanings. Bringing together 70 of the most unusual, intriguing and atmospheric of England’s churches, Sherlock tells stories of craftsmanship and local community, whilst centering these buildings at the heart of our national story and revealing their forgotten secrets and cultural significance. Read more

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A Caldecott Honor BookReaders worldwide recognize Caldecott Medal winner David Macaulay's imaginary Cathedral of Chutreaux. This critically acclaimed book has been translated into a dozen languages and remains a classic of children's literature and a touchstone for budding architects. Cathedral's numerous awards include a Caldecott Honor and designation as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Macaulay's intricate pen-and-ink illustrations.Journey back to centuries long ago and visit the fictional people of twelfth-, thirteenth-, and fourteenth-century Europe whose dreams, like Cathedral, stand the test of time. Read more

In this dramatic journey through religious and artistic history, R. A. Scotti traces the defining event of a glorious epoch: the building of St. Peter's Basilica. Begun by the ferociously ambitious Pope Julius II in 1506, the endeavor would span two tumultuous centuries, challenge the greatest Renaissance masters—Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bramante—and enrage Martin Luther. By the time it was completed, Shakespeare had written all of his plays, the Mayflower had reached Plymouth—and Rome had risen with its astounding basilica to become Europe's holy metropolis. A dazzling portrait of human achievement and excess, Basilica is a triumph of historical writing. Read more

In 1742, when the legendary dome atop St. Peter’s Basilica—designed by Michelangelo—cracks and threatens to collapse, Pope Benedict XIV summons three mathematicians whose groundbreaking ideas spark a revolution in the world of architecture.1742: the famous dome atop Saint Peter’s Basilica, designed by Michelangelo, is fractured and threatened with collapse. The dome is the pride of Italy and the largest of its kind anywhere in the world. And no one knows how to fix it. This engaging and colorful narrative tells the overlooked story of how Michelangelo’s Dome was saved from disaster by three mathematicians and Pope Benedict XIV, who had asked them for help. It is a gripping story of decisive leadership, crisis management, and scientific innovation, and the resistance that was faced when sailing into the headwinds of conventional thought. In Saving Michelangelo's Dome, Stanford-trained engineer Wayne Kalayjian illustrates how new ideas in science and mathematics established an entirely new way of looking at the world—as well as solving its complex problems. In the end, readers will appreciate that in saving Michelangelo’s Dome from collapse, these three mathematicians and one determined pope unknowingly invented the profession of engineering as we practice it today. With it, they transformed the architectural world and ushered in generations of future buildings and structures that, otherwise, would never have been built. Read more

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A fascinating history written from the uniquely informed perspective of the Chapel's current custodians, the Earl and Countess of RosslynSuperbly illustrated throughout with new, specially-commissioned photographyThe perfect souvenir for visitors, and also fascinating to those interested in Scottish history or religious architectureThe glorious fifteenth-century Rosslyn Chapel is one of Scotland's most extraordinary architectural masterpieces. Founded by Sir William St Clair, third Prince of Orkney, and inspired by the great Gothic cathedrals he had seen in France, the chapel has remained in the ownership of the St Clair family for over 550 years. Built entirely in stone, its many carvings include Christian imagery, representations of the pagan Green Man and the earliest recorded stone carving of the medieval Dance of Death, the 'Danse Macabre'. Rosslyn Chapel also looks into the myths and legends associated with the building and the family, who have been connected at various points in history to mysterious groups, such as the Knights Templar and the Freemasons. The authors explore the fascinating and intertwined histories of the St Clair family and their chapel. They focus on more than the building's ancient past, noting the impact of Hollywood and the chapel's newfound publicity after it was shot as a location in The da Vinci Code, as well as the recent major conservation project it has undergone. Beautifully illustrated with new and specially-commissioned photography, Rosslyn Chapel will be the ultimate souvenir of a visit, and essential reading for those who wish to explore this intriguing Chapel further. Read more

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work. Read more

Magnum photographer Patrick Zachmann was on the scene when the disastrous fire erupted in Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on the evening of April 15, 2019. At the time he did not yet know that he would continue to document the events at the cathedral over the months that followed. Eventually, he clambered along scaffolding and up and down steep stairs, and he would, from atop an aerial work platform, discover hitherto unknown aspects of Notre-Dame, its new silhouette, and the artistic gems that survived. Zachmann was granted privileged access to the worksite early on, and from the very first weeks after the disaster, he takes us along on one of the most exciting construction sites in the world. He also provides us with a deep dive into history and invites us on a captivating and moving visit to a building that has been torn apart and for which scientists and craftspeople alike are caring, motivated to breathe new life into it. Throughout these pages, his photographs document an extraordinary human adventure, and his diary entries shed an intimate light on the experience. In addition, cathedral historian Olivier de Châlus provides the historical context, both to elucidate the mysteries surrounding the medieval construction site and to illuminate the paradoxes regarding the building’s restoration. This beautiful book is a genuine ode to a monument rich in symbolism and secrets.  Read more

Mont Saint Michel and Chartres is a record not of a literal jouney but of a meditative journey across time and space into the medieval imagination. Using the architecture, sculpture, and stained glass of the two locales as a starting point, Adams breathes life into what others might see merely as monuments of a past civilization. With daring and inventive conceits, Adams looks at the ordinary people, places, and events in the context of the social conventions and systems of thought and belief of the thirteenth century turning the study of history into a kind of theater.As Raymond Carney discusses in his introduction, Adams' freeedom from the European traditions of study lends an exuberance—and puckish wit—to his writings.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.  Read more

The architectural history of the Middle Ages is full of surprisesIt is hard to imagine today that relatively few construction plans have been found for the impressive churches and cathedrals of the Romanesque and Gothic periods. Where did most of the drawings go? Were the plans destroyed in Europe or lost over time? Or were they never made at all?Although there are very few architectural drawings, there were numerous compasses. What were they used for and how? Was it possible to design complex buildings such as churches and cathedrals without blueprints?The author takes the readers on an exciting cultural and historical journey through timeShe looks at the spread of papyrus, parchment and paper and traces the ability to write and calculate in Europe. She also looks at the construction process in historical illustrations and draws comparisons with Arabic architecture. Finally, the author presents the various types of compasses that were available and explains how the drawing skills of master builders developed up to the Renaissance.These insights into the history of architecture lead to some surprising discoveries: Architects of the Middle Ages thought and planned very differently from how we think today.Dr. Sonja Ulrike Klug has been studying medieval architecture for over 20 years. She has published several books on Gothic cathedrals.Press Reviews about the German original edition of this book:"Despite the demanding content the book is written in an understandable and entertaining way. Klug argues convincingly, using numerous quotations and examples to make her train of thought clear. Illustrations provide additional clarity." (blog.histofact.de)"The book is not only interesting for experts, but for any reader who is enthusiastic about medieval architecture and history.” (nightshade-magazin.de) Read more

FOREWORD INDIES Book of the Year Awards — 2017 GOLD Winner for ArchitectureOne of the most important and authoritative books to celebrate mosque architecture and Islamic design, featuring many exquisite newly commissioned photographs.   This visually striking volume illustrates over sixty of the most venerated mosques from historic monuments such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and Istanbul’s Süleymaniye Mosque to today’s most dynamic new designs exemplified by the Sancaklar Mosque. Essays by prominent architecture and design authorities include Professor Sussan Babaie, Andrew W. Mellon Reader in the Arts of Iran and Islam, The Courtauld Institute of Art, London; Distinguished Professor Walter B. Denny, Department of the History of Art and Architecture, University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Heather Ecker, Visiting Professor, Art and Archaeology, Columbia University; Professor Mohammed Hamdouni Alami, Archaeological Research Facility at University of California, Berkeley; Professor Renata Holod, Professor of Islamic Art, University of Pennsylvania, and Curator in the Near East Section, Penn Museum; Philip Jodidio, author and independent scholar in art and architecture, Geneva; George Michell, author and independent architectural historian, London; Fatima Quraishi, PhD candidate, The Institute of Fine Arts, New York University; Matthew Saba, Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Architecture, Aga Khan Documentation Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries; and Angela Wheeler, PhD student in Architectural History, Harvard University.   Mosques from Europe, the Indian subcontinent, North America, North Africa and the sub-Sahara, the Middle East, and Russia and the Caucasus are showcased. This book covers their earliest origins in Mecca and Medina to contemporary masterpieces, illuminating their stylistic transformations and providing examples from Islam’s great dynasties—the Umayyads, the Abbasids, the Mamluks, the Ottomans, the Safavids, and the Mughals.   Original and archival photographs offer exterior and interior views along with images of adjacent gardens and fountains that grace these sanctuaries. Stunning mosque calligraphy and tilework, as well as furnishings and illumination, enhance this volume. Read more

The Duomo di Milano represents the pinnacle of Italian Gothic architecture. The drawing recreated here is part of a series proposed by the architect Paolo Cesa Bianchi for the decoration of the interior vaults of the Cathedral. The soaring arabesques create a sense of a faux relief arborescence over a golden background. Decorative printed paper Double-sided designs Textured printing Rounded edges Subtle Paperblanks branding Read more

Rosslyn Chapel is a deeply enigmatic 15th-century Gothic masterpiece, situated near Edinburgh. Although generally referred to as a 'chapel' and acting as a local parish church these days, Rosslyn is actually much more than either - and in fact most people who have studied the site in detail come to the conclusion that those who created the structure in the 15th century were not, in reality, intent on building a Christian church at all. In fact, nothing at Rosslyn is what it seems. With its overpowering air of mystery, its superlative stone carvings and its strong Templar and Freemasonic connections, Rosslyn represents one of the most absorbing historical puzzles in Britain. The discovery of new evidence by the authors puts a new slant on the motivations of those who decided to create a New Jerusalem in the Scottish Lowlands. The signs pointed the authors to a lost holy relic - the skull of St Matthew the Evangelist, in whose name the chapel is dedicated. There is startling evidence that this skull came to Rosslyn in the early 15th century, brought there by polymath, librarian and all-round genius Sir Gilbert Hay, who also put together a substantial library.What follows is no less than an adventure, using the clues from the lost books to locate St Matthew's skull - now in Washington, DC. The authors also embark on a thorough examination of Rosslyn Chapel's credentials, both a Christian church and as an icon of the impending Renaissance, a reconstruction of King Solomon's Temple and an astronomical observatory - all suffused with ancient beliefs that would have had the chapel's builders burned at the stake if their true motivations had been discovered. Read more

Louis Comfort Tiffany, and the Tiffany Studios he founded, are internationally famous today for their inventive, intricate, and vibrantly colored leaded glass work. Ecclesiastical commissions made up the majority of Tiffany’s work, and his innovative application of opalescent glass to windows radically transformed the interiors of religious institutions in America. Eternal Light: The Sacred Stained- Glass Windows of Louis Comfort Tiffany is the first volume to focus exclusively on Tiffany’s celebrated ecclesiastical windows, presenting ten of the most significant religious windows produced by Tiffany Studios between 1880 and 1925, and the important collection of Tiffany works at The Richard H. Driehaus Museum.Tiffany’s masterpieces tell stories of American entrepreneurship, of places of worship, and of evolving relationships to religion. This volume not only focuses on the beautiful and exceptionally crafted objects in the collection, but it also delves into the ideas and stories, including the progressive technologies, designers, and patrons behind the windows. As well as comparative details there are two special gate-fold inserts which highlight two of the windows—Christ and the Apostles, 1890 and Ecclesiastical Angels, 1905. Read more

Brunelleschi's basilica of Santo Spirito in Florence was not only a product of creative genius, but also of communal bureaucracy, socio-economic traditions, human and financial resources, factionalism, and rivalry. This complex network of forces behind the monument serves as testimony to the determination and capacity of Renaissance Florentines to actualize the creative ideas of the extraordinary artists and architects who were transforming the profile of the city. Moreover, it reveals that the labor, spirit, and energy of those human beings who were building Renaissance Florence were just as important to its manufacture as the brick, stone and wood used to build it. By investigating those aspects that defined the building tradition of the Renaissance - the architect, the Opera (building committee), the quartiere (neighborhood), the cantiere (worksite and workforce) - we discover that behind a great monument lies a monumental account of collective human achievement. Read more