Architecture Books
15th-20th century books, including historic illustrated surveys from the library of the School of Architecture and Applied Arts.
Established in 1895, the School was an important centre of the Arts and Crafts movement with Robert Anning Bell (1863-1933) and Augustus John (1878-1961) on its staff. It later promoted classicist and modernist ideas under Charles Reilly (1874-1948), who formed strong alliances with local industrialists such as W.H. Lever of Port Sunlight. Examples of the School's work can be seen in its Portfolio of Measured Drawings and in the Liverpool Architectural Sketchbook.
Reilly also attracted valuable gifts to the School's library, for example Piranesi's Diverse maniere (1769), and the collections include many of the landmark texts of architectural history.
Classical architecture
Vitruvius (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio), a contemporary of Julius Caesar and Augustus, probably wrote his handbook of classical architecture, De Architectura before 27 BC, but its influence stems from the Renaissance as printed copies became available. Liverpool holds the first illustrated edition (Venice, 1511), later 16th-century editions, and translations into French and English.
Renaissance architecture
Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72) published the first original Renaissance treatise on architecture: De Re Aedificatoria (Florence, 1485), including a scheme for building a new town - the first example of town planning in print. Liverpool holds the first edition, and later editions including translations into English, French and Italian.
Palladianism
Andrea Palladio (1508-80) published his I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura in 1570, directly influenced by Vitruvius and Alberti. Palladianism was popularised in England by aristocratic travellers returning from the Grand Tour, and especially by Inigo Jones (1573-1632), whose notes on his copy of Palladio were included in English translations. Liverpool holds several 18th-century editions in English and Italian, and also Colin Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus; or the British Architect (1715-71).
The Gothic Revival
Augustus Charles Pugin (1762-1832) and his son Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52) led a rediscovery of medieval design which dominated the 19th century. Liverpool holds the 3rd edition of A.C. Pugin's Specimens of Gothic Architecture (1825-26), and the topographical works of John Britton, which illustrated Britain's medieval architectural heritage.
Examples of 20th century Domestic Architecture
The collections include A monograph of the work of McKim, Mead and White, 1879-1915 (1915), illustrating the work of the most important American architectural firm of the early 20th century and also 50 best homes from the pages of Good Housekeeping: architects' sketch plans with 1/8" scale elevations, showing areas and building details, including photographs and complete descriptions (New York, 1950).
Liverpool Buildings
Liverpool University Library manuscripts of architectural interest include:
- LUL MS.10.5, MS.25.25 and MS.26.4:1-2 (St. George's Hall)
- LUL MS.26.1:6-52 (Liverpool Anglican Cathedral)
- For University buildings, see the University Archives.