Louis Sullivan’s Idea
Tim Samuelson
Chicago architectural historian Tim Samuelson and artist/writer Chris Ware present renowned architect Louis H. Sullivan’s commitment to his discipline of thought as the guiding force behind his work. This collection of photographs, original documentation, and drawings all date from the period of Sullivan's life, 1856–1924, that many rarely or have never seen before.
The story of Louis H. Sullivan is considered one of the great American tragedies. While Sullivan reshaped architectural thought and practice and contributed significantly to the foundations of modern architecture, he suffered a sad and lonely death. Many have since missed his aim: that of bringing buildings to life. What mattered most to Sullivan were not the buildings but the philosophy behind their creation. Once, he unconcernedly stated that if he lived long enough, he would get to see all of his works destroyed. He added: “Only the idea is the important thing.”
In Louis Sullivan’s Idea, Chicago architectural historian Tim Samuelson and artist/writer Chris Ware present Sullivan’s commitment to his discipline of thought as the guiding force behind his work, and this collection of photographs, original documentation, and drawings all date from the period of Sullivan's life, 1856–1924, that many rarely or have never seen before. The book includes a full-size foldout facsimile reproduction of Louis Sullivan’s last architectural commission and the only surviving working drawing done in his own hand.
$45.00 cloth/jacket ISBN 978-1-5179-1279-6
384 pages, 300 color plates, 9 x 11, September 2021
Tim Samuelson is the administrator of his own lifetime architectural preservation archive, and is the City of Chicago’s cultural historian and former curator of architecture and design at the Chicago Historical Society. Since age seven his primary and long-term interest has been the story of Chicago’s architecture, especially the work of Louis H. Sullivan.
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Archidose: Two Louis Sullivan Books
Archidose: Two Louis Sullivan Books
Archidose blog review of RECONSTRUCTING THE GARRICK and LOUIS SULLIVAN'S IDEA.