An Encyclopaedia of Architecture : Historical, Theoretical, and Practical

Reissued here in its first edition of 1842, this highly illustrated work by architect Joseph Gwilt (1784–1863) is his most celebrated achievement. Providing thorough coverage of architectural history, theory and practice around the world, it enjoyed great popularity upon its first appearance. Over 1,000 wood engravings accompany the text.

An architect like his father before him, Joseph Gwilt (1784–1863) is best remembered for his published work. His most celebrated achievement, reissued here in its first edition of 1842, was this hugely popular resource, which went through several further editions. The work draws extensively on French sources, although its success owes much to its accessibility and organisation into three thorough sections. The first looks at the development of architecture, using examples from various countries and regions, with a particular focus on Britain. Architectural theory is then explored with reference to construction, building materials and detailed illustrations. Lastly, Gwilt turns to praxis, looking at rules and styles of architecture and how these have been implemented in public and private buildings. Over 1,000 wood engravings, based on drawings by the author's son, accompany the text. The Architecture of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (1826), Gwilt's English translation, is also reissued in this series.