Review

Reviewed Work(s): The Language of Architecture, A Contribution to Architectural Theory

by Niels Lunning Prak
Review by: Grant Hildebrand
Source: Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Mar., 1970), pp.
74-75
Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Society of Architectural
Historians
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/988586
Accessed: 05-02-2019 17:12 UTC

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74

Some interesting side issues emerge from version, leads to a dream-escape architec-
to come quickly to mind would be Vincent
his work. Now it will be possible-cer- ture whose order is not a reflection of real-
Scully's The Earth, The Temple, and the
tainly it is desirable-for comparisons to be Gods (this does not imply any other simi- ity but an escape therefrom. The dream-
made between the Wagnerschule and the larities between Professor Scully's work escape motive continues to the present time
Bauhaus; Graf documents parallelisms of and the book under review). and is reflected in architectural develop-
their philosophies hitherto ignored. Of Professor Prak's book is divided into two
ments ranging through Baroque, "Classi-
course the Wagnerschule also needs to be parts (although on p. vii he inexplicably cism, Eclecticism, and Modern Architec-
compared to the Beaux-Arts. Further com- ture" (p. 45). Thus in this view of the se-
refers to "the third part of my book"). The
parisons between the roles of Wagner and quence of developments "Brunelleschi
first part is concerned with abstract analyti-
Loos are needed. The retardatory program stands at the watershed" (p. 5o).
cal concepts. Architecture is subdivided ac-
of Loos's school of architecture (published cording to the familiar Vitruvian/Wotton-This hypothesis is illustrated by discus-
here) fits exactly with the character of his sion of nine buildings: Santa Constanza,
ian trilogy, after which the aesthetic ele-
work. Comparisons between Wagner and ment is further subdivided into its formal
Rome; St. Michael, Hildesheim; Notre
Wright and their entourages are needed; Dame of Amiens; the Pazzi Chapel; the
and its symbolic aspects. The psychology
there are many connections. Among those of perception is discussed with emphasis Imperial
on Library, Vienna; Westminster
not pointed out by GrafI mention two: the New Palace (the Houses of Parliment);
laws of configuration and perception as de-
graphic artifices of the Wagnerschule also termined by Gestalt psychology. SpaceAmsterdam
is Exchange; theJohnson House,
appear in the drawings of Wright's studio; usefully analyzed as physical, conceptual,New Canaan; and Notre Dame du Haut,
and, the unusual structure of Wright's and behavioral. There follows a treatment Ronchamp. Given the examples chosen (or
windmill, "Romeo and Juliet," is seen of symbolism and emotion as the keys others,
to for that matter) is the hypothesis
again in Bastl's "Lookout Tower" of I90I. art. Then Professor Prak discusses "basic tenable? Professor Prak himself expresses
The most desirable outcome of this small reservations. He says that "the historical
concepts in architecture," place, space, and
book would be to have Dr. Graf bring his structure, and the classification of forms,
facts adduced in support of this theory may
unequalled grasp of this source material for all of which he again draws on Gestaltcontain some errors and omissions, but are
and its milieu to some more central re- laws of perception as applied to three-di-based in the main on recent literature and
search station where graduate students mensional constructs. will probably not be called into question.
could pursue the wider implications under The weak spot lies in the connection be-
Thus far the book is useful, particularly
his guidance, leading to a full-scale, thor- tween historical social conditions and the
as a convenient text for the student in ar-
oughly mature publication worthy of the architecture of the period .... This is en-
chitecture attempting to order his own
international significance of the insights tirely an hypothetical reconstruction; its
thoughts on the creation of space and form.
which Graf has spread before us. This reviewer knows of no book now avail-
very nature precludes a direct proof..."
EDGAR KAUFMANN, JR. able which presents in such a usable way (pp. vi, vii). But if a direct proof is not pos-
Columbia University sible, one could ask for a considerably less
this material as applied to analysis of the
architectural design process. generalized treatment of the issues even in
Part I defines a basis from which, in Part
terms of those historical facts which may
II, Professor Prak discusses a body of ex-not be called into question. To take only
Niels Lunning Prak, The Language ofArchi-
amples illustrating his hypothesis of his-the case of the Pazzi Chapel, the crucial
tecture, A Contribution to Architectural Theory,
"watershed" work in the hypothesis, one
tory. The argument is that social conditions
The Hague and Paris: Mouton and Co.,
as measured against the subject people's would like to have a comparison of the de-
1968, I8I pp., illus. Dutch Guilders 32.50.
immediate and distant past induce in the gree of unrest in Florence at that time with,
In the first paragraph of the preface to society an attitude toward itself and the say, the prevailing degree of unrest in that
this book, Professor Prak states that he is outside world. The resultant self-evalua- city during the preceding three centuries or
attempting "to find some consistent pat- so, especially since in the case of Amiens
tion in the collective sense is an underlying
tern of relations between architectural aes-
force in the determination of the buildingsthe point is made (p. 96) that the early thir-
teenth century "was a good time to live in
which the society produces. Professor Prak
thetics and social history." He thereby in-
tends to contribute to an architectural defines three periods of history with which
in comparison to the preceding age." Instead,
he intends to deal: "the Later Roman Em-
theory and criticism of the present day by we are given a generalized picture of strife-
showing why, in broad terms, the architect pire, the Middle Ages, and Modern Times ridden Renaissance Florence without any
tends to utilize certain formal and spatial reference to its at least equally strife-ridden
starting with the Renaissance" (p. 42). The
alternatives in certain social contexts. Thus Later Roman Empire is marked by threats "preceding age," and a description of
as he states, his work builds upon such from without and a consequent retreat Genoa
to from a document of 1432. The fa-
writings as Philosophy in a New Key and the inner reaches of an introverted archi-mous Buondelmonte murder of I216, the
Feeling and Form by Suzanne Langer and death sentence of Dante in I302, the inter-
tecture. The Middle Ages resolves to a con-
The Collective Dream in Art by Walter siderable degree external threats, and theminableGuelph-Ghibillinebloodshed;none
Abell. However, in attempting to probe architecture opens up, reflecting in its of these are mentioned. But these and a
growing order, integration, and penetra-
the relationship between societal attitudes myriad of similar events must have formed
the background against which the Floren-
bility, the increasing stability and confi-
and environmental arts he is also adopting
a purpose which would seem to have been dence of the time. The Renaissance begins tine of the I420s would have measured the
the foundation of many books on architec- state of affairs of his own time. He may
under a situation marked by internal threat;
well be excused for seeking a dream-world,
this, suggesting no easy solution of intro-
tural history; perhaps the first recent work

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 75

yet
yet if if
thatthat
is what
is he
what
sought,
he why did he sowhy Samuel
sought, Wilson,Jr., Bienville's New
did he so Orleans:
happy to cooperate in making them hastily
long
long postpone
postpone
his dream-escape?
his dream-escape?
Or was Or was Colonial Capital, 1718-1768,
A French New
available for photographic recording. Since
he
hebyby then
then
quite quite
callousedcalloused
to the prevailing
to the prevailing then, Wilson
Orleans: The Friends of the Cabildo, has extended and elaborated
I968,
state
state of of
affairs,
affairs,
in whichin case
which
the Renais-
case the Renais-
6 pp., 46 pls. $2.75. this area of study with ever-increasing
sance
sance represented
represented
for him for
quite him
a different
quite a different command.
sort
sort of of
thing?
thing? In recognition of last year's two Among
hundred the most memorable items in
If
Ifthe
theissue
issue
of a Renaissance
of a Renaissance andtend-
escapist tend-escapist fiftieth anniversary of New the Orleans,
exhibit is the large Lassus watercolor
ency
ency could
could
be argued
be argued
convincingly,
convincingly,
could could
the Government of France, through itsin 1726, seen from across
view of the city
we
wethen
then
establish
establish
with anywith
conviction
anythat Minister
conviction thatof Cultural Affairs, Andre Mal-with boatmen, workers,
the Mississippi,
mediaeval
mediaeval man man
in the Ile
indethe
France
Ilewas
deless
France was sent
raux, less on loan an outstanding
andselection
woodcutters in the foreground, and
moved
moved to an
toescapist/dreamland
an escapist/dreamland
frame of of drawings
frame of and other documentsthefrom thewith its irregular edge of
rising town
mind?
mind? We We
do, ofdo,
course,
of have
course,
the com-
have Archives
the com-Nationales, the Bibliotheque
cleared landNa-
hemmed in by dense forest.
ments
ments of Suger,
of Suger,
the verythe
founder
veryof Gothic tionale,
founder of Gothic the museums of Versailles
There are and
also plans, elevations, and sec-
architecture,
architecture, in which
in "Iwhich
see myself
"I dwell- Compiegne,
see myself dwell- and two private collections.
tions of major early structures- the prison,
ing,
ing,as as
it were,
it were,
in somein strange
some region
strange
of region
These of displayed in the Presbytere,
were a convent, warehouses,
barracks, hospital,
the
theuniverse
universe
which which
neither exists
neither
entirely
exists
in historicinbuilding on Jackson Square
entirely that,
headquarters of the Company of the Indes,
the
theslime
slime
of the
ofearth
thenor
earth
entirely
norin the
entirely
withinits
the
counterpart known as the Cabildo,
the house and observatory of the King's
purity
purity of heaven;
of heaven;
and that,and
by the
that,
grace by
of the grace of the main portion of Engineer,
constitutes the Louisi-
and the little Church of St. Louis
God,
God, I can
I can
be transported
be transported
from this inferior
from this ana State Museum. The Friends on
inferior ofthethe
site ofCa-
the present Basilica. Some of
to
tothat
that
higher
higher
world in
world
an anagogical
in anman- bildoman-
anagogical have issued this illustratedthese
review
documents,ofperhaps about a half doz-
ner"
ner" (trans.
(trans.
Panofsky).
Panofsky).
Similar reserva-
Similarthe
reserva-
exhibition, which will serveen,as a become
have per-known through previous
tions
tions might
might
be expressed
be expressed manent
concerning concerning
the therecord of the occasion. Besides
Wilson publications. The convent and
conclusions
conclusions drawndrawn
from thefrom other exam-
the other
mapsexam-
and portraits the reproductions in-and the Lassus view, in-
church drawings
ples;
ples; in in
the the
end one
endis left
one to is
wonder
leftwheth- clude some twenty-three architectural
to wonder wheth- cluding an interesting enlarged detail of the
er
erhistory
historyhas not
has once
notagain
once
successfully
again successfully
drawings and ten city or fortification plans.
latter showing clearly the Place d'Armes in
eluded
eluded the the
tidy package.
tidy package. The five plates in color, though hardly
its original state, were featured in a small
The
The book
book
closescloses
with a four-page
with a sum-four-page sum-to the originals, contribute
faithful to on
publication theThe Capuchin School in New
mary
mary of recent
of recent
developments.
developments.
This sum- visual
This appeal of the volume. Its
sum- unusual
Orleans, prepared for the Archdiocesan
mary,
mary, andand
the book,
the concludes:
book, concludes: format and typographical quality School
areBoard
to be in I96I. The same items and
credited to the design and editorial
othersefforts
have been published in "An Archi-
Here
Here ends
ends
our story.
our Ifstory.
my analysis
If my is correct,
analysis of
is correct,
Roulhac B. Toledano.
architects
architects have have
been trying
been to trying
express the
to express the tectural History of the Royal Hospital and
Prior to the publication of this small
the Ursuline Convent of New Orleans,"
same
same concept
concept
over and
over
over and
again over
during again
the during the
commemorative album, the various
Louisianainci-
Historical Quarterly, xxix (July
last
lastfive
five
hundred
hundred
years. Toyears.
a steadily
To diver-
a steadily diver-
gent
gent andand
competitive
competitive
society, they
society,
upheld theydental or ephemeral reference1946),
upheld works on
559-659; "Louisiana Drawings by
the
theideals
ideals
of harmony
of harmony
and social unity....
and socialFrench New Orleans have contained noth-
unity.... Alexandre De Batz," JSAH, xxii (May
It
Itmay
may wellwell
be that
beour
that
clients,
our ourclients,
so- our
ing so-
like the scope of illustrative I963),
detail nor
75-89; "Colonial Fortifications and
ciety,
ciety, expect
expect
something
something
quite different
quitefrom
different fromsustained treatment of the
the vivid, subject
Military Architecture in the Mississippi
our
our work
workthan than
we do ourselves.
we do ourselves.
There may There may
that Wilson provides in his compact, in-
Valley" in The French in the Mississippi Val-
be
beroom
room for afor
different
a different
type of architectural
type of architectural
formative introduction and precise,
ley, edited byex-John Francis McDermott
theory:
theory: client-directed
client-directed
rather thanrather
architect-
than architect-
planatory captions. For a long time serious
(Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1965);
directed.
directed. A theory
A theory
which assesses
which as best
assesses
it as best it
readers were virtually limited toand a small
the book in collaboration with
chap-
can
canthe the
biological
biological
and psychological
and psychological
expec- expec-
tations
tationsof the
of anonymous
the anonymousclient, without ter on French
client, without Louisiana in Leonard
Hugh V.
Morri- Huber, Baroness Pontalba's
falling
falling backback
on a sermon
on a sermon
in stone, which- son's
in stone, Early American Architecture
which- Buildings(New
(New Orleans: Louisiana Land-
as
ashistory
historyshowsshows
us-leavesus-leaves
him stone-cold. York: Oxford University Press,marks
him stone-cold. I952, pp.
Society and Friends of the Cabildo,
253-268). More recently there1964).
hasAllbeenof these references are now, in
Is
Isitit
thethe
author's
author's
contention
contention
that such that
JamessuchMarston Fitch's essay on "Creole
one way or another, superseded by Wilson's
buildings
buildings as the
asImperial
the Imperial
Library, Vienna,
Library, Architecture
Vienna, 1718-I860: The Rise and Fall
definitive volume on The Vieux Carre/
or
orthe theHouses
Houses
of Parliament
of Parliament
are not client-
are not
of aclient-
Great Tradition," in the Tulane Uni-
New Orleans/ Its Plan / its Growth / its Ar-
directed,
directed, to say
tonothing
say nothing
of the Johnson
of the versity
Johnsoncommemorative volume foronlyjust
chitecture, the now issued as apart of the
House(!)?
House(!)? Finally,
Finally,
it wouldit
seem
would
that a seem that a
New Orleans anniversary, edited by Hod-
eight-volume Historic Demonstration Study
discussion
discussion of a considerable
of a considerable
amount of ver-
amount of Carter
ding ver- (The Past as Prelude, New Or-
...for the City of New Orleans, Marcou and
nacular
nacular work
work
would would
be most pertinent
be most pertinent
leans: Pelican Publishing House, 1968).
O'Leary, Planning and Design Consultants
since
since there
there
are inare
that in
field
that
numerous
fieldfasci-
numerous fasci-
Fitch's summary is necessarily(New
broad
Orleans:in
Bureau of Governmental
nating
nating examples
examplesof the directions
of the which
directions which
treatment, and he did not have access to
Research, December 1968). This project, a
Professor
Professor Prak Prak
seems to seems
be espousing. such a He
to beHeespousing. rich store of documents. Samuel
classic of its type, deserves a subsequent and
has,
has, however
however (p. 42),(p.
excluded
42), vernacular
excluded vernacular
Wilson first discovered most of these in the
thoroughgoing evaluation.
work
work from
from
his discussion.
his discussion.
Archives Nationales just prior to World BERNARD LEMANN
GRANT HILDEBRAND War II. Then, faced with the uncertainties Tulane University
of war, the French authorities were all too
University of Washington

This content downloaded from 131.94.16.10 on Tue, 05 Feb 2019 17:12:39 UTC
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