Visionary Architects

Book excerpt: The works included here by the three 18th-century French architects Boullee, Ledoux, and Lequeu include architectural drawings of geometric, colossal buildings that verge on science fiction, as well as more mundane neo-classical works built for the French aristocracy. Published first as a catalog for a traveling exhibition originating at the U. of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, the 148 drawings from the Cabinet d'Estampes in Paris, are each illustrated with a b&w plate, and followed by a short catalog entry. There is a bibliography, but no index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR