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The Hirst Art Studies | Miniatures 

Introduction:

This section is about books that I use to get ideas from, help me to understanding why structures are build the way they are build and explain the different styles in architecture. Books I really like are in this list and maybe there is something of interest in it for you as well.

“Piranesi the Complete Etchings”

By: Luigi Ficacci
Publisher: Taschen
ISBN: 3-8228-6620-2
Pages: 799



The complete works of Giovanni Battista Piranesi shows the work of a great artist who was also known as an archeologist and architect. His interest was mainly focused on classical antiquity which he captures in his engravings with superb detail. During his live 1720 – 1778 he mainly documented the remains of ancient roman architecture in and around Rome. The book contains over 1000 etchings of impressive buildings, tombs, arches columns, ruins, dungeons, graveyards and so on. Piranesi’s interest is also in small details which can be found in the series of etchings about ornaments, tomb stones, fireplaces, vases, sea shells etc. Another great thing about this book are the etchings about the constructions of walls, roads, bridges, fortifications etc.
“Piranesi the Complete Etchings” is a “must have” book for me. A book that will certainly stir up your imagination.


“De Gevelstenen van Amsterdam” (The Stone Tablets of Amsterdam)

By: Onno W. Boers
Publisher: Verloren b.v.
ISBN 9-789065-509758
Pages:296



In the year 1795 streets got names and houses got numbers. Before 1795 citizens had other ways to find their way around town. Stone tablets where found all over the city and where placed in the houses façades. They told people about the business that could be found here, the builder that build the house or the family that lived there. Since there where so many of these stone tablets they also became handy for pointing out where someone lived. Someone lived in the “Red Lion”, opposite the “Black Sheep” or 2 houses away from the “Milkmaid”. (In this example the names refer to Stone Tablets).
This book has documented all remaining 700 stone tablets (those that are older than 1795) in the city of Amsterdam. It gives all the information about each tablets that is still available. Telling about who made it en when, who ordered it and what the tablet is telling us.
“De Gevelstenen van Amsterdam” is a beautiful book that invites you to go out and see the stones for your self. I hope to get to a point where I can add stone tablets to my future model houses.

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