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The Appian Way

The Appian Way

Adolphe Appia and the Scenography of Modern Architecture

By (author) Ross Anderson

£45.00

Publishing 14th Apr 2025
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    • First comprehensive critical biography of modern Swiss scenographer Adolphe Appia (1862–1928) with a focus on his relevance to architecture
    • Articulates the understated role of scenography in the development of modern European architecture and aesthetics
    • First book to feature all of Adolphe Appia’s outstanding drawings in large scale and in full colour
    Full Description

    Adolphe Appia (1862–1928) is an eminent figure in the history of the modern theatre, best-known for his writings on the mise-en-scène and stage design for the operas of Richard Wagner. Far lesser known is the Swiss scenographer’s importance in 20th-century architecture and aesthetics.

    The Appian Way is the definitive account of Appia’s significance also in this field. It is centred on his remarkable drawings that are at once austere and mysteriously atmospheric. Framing a series of monumental yet minimal scenes taking in runs of stairs, landings, platforms and terraces, all staged before a distant horizon under a luminous sky, the drawings are generally described as monochrome, but the subtle hues of the paper imbue each one with a distinctive ambient undertone. Appia himself might be thought about the same way. He was always distant yet also always enigmatically present in the ensuing drama of modern architecture and avant garde stage design.

    Comprising four main chapters and a coda, this engaging and accessible book is structured as a dramatic story that traces the contours of Appia’s life — his personal circumstances, convictions, aesthetic preferences, desires and motivations — all aimed at constructing a comprehensive portrayal of his life and his work, within the horizons of his time. All of Appia’s drawings are reproduced here in full colour, accompanied by a vast range of archival material, much of which has never been published before.

    About the Author

    Ross Anderson is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney. He writes on the pivotal role played by drawing in the development of modern architecture and aesthetics within the European context.

    Specifications
    Publisher
    Park Books
    ISBN
    9783038604051
    Publish date
    14th Apr 2025
    Binding
    Hardback
    Territory
    World excluding Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, United States, Canada, and Japan
    Size
    280 mm x 240 mm
    Pages
    464 Pages
    Illustrations
    360 color
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