Kaufmann E. Three Revolutionary Architects, Boullee, Ledoux, and Lequeu

Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society, 1952. — 135 p. (Transactions Of The American Philosophical Society Held At Philadelphia For Promoting Useful Knowledge: New Series. Volume 42, Part 3)As late as the 1 920's the works of Boullee and Ledoux were discussed only if they had some local interest. Beyond this their works were referred to very briefly, at best, and the authors were commonly disparaged. In an article published in 1 929 I attempted to direct attention to their historic significance. Subsequent publications of mine on Ledoux, including the first monograph, were followed by French biographies in 1934 and 1945. As to Boullee and Lequeu, my essays in the Art Bulletin, 1939 and 1949, seem to be the only biographical studies on these two men. Continued research yielded much new material. Moreover, I will discuss the predecessors of these three men who were also highly interesting personalities, and enter another hitherto neglected field, that of eighteenthcentury French architectural theory. Some of the treatises I have used are rare and not easily accessible, while others are too lengthy for the average reader. Therefore, selected passages which provide a deeper insight into the thought of the era and reveal the character of their authors have been assembled in my notes. The bibliography lists monographs and essays of general interest; further bibliographical references are included in the notes. Those interested in Ledoux will find heresources that are mlssmg in other biographies, just as they will find among the illustrations many designs not before reproduced. This book ventures into unmapped territory. It attempts to lay the groundwork for an investigation of the architecture of the era which culminated in the French Revolution. Although the attempt here is to clarify the historical position of the architects by setting off their production against the general trends of their period, it does not pretend to say the last word on the development which it will discuss for the first time. I know that one can look at the extremely original works of these three architects from various angles. It is to be hoped that others will not limit themselves to pointing out the shortcomings of this attempt, but will
carry on with independent and better interpretations based on a renewed scrutiny of their works, and of the treatises referred to in the text.Etienne-Louis BoulleeThe Teachers
The Man
The Artist
The ThinkerClaude-Nicolas LedouxLife and Character
Buildings Erected or Projected
The Propylaea of Paris
The Ideal CityJean-Jacques LequeuLequeu's Life
Lequeu's Work