Stanford White's New York

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The enormous contribution of Stanford White (1853-1906), an architect in the Beaux-Arts tradition who designed the Washington Square Arch, the Player's Club, the second Madison Square Garden and many other public and private buildings in New York City, is celebrated in this lively study by architectural historian Lowe ( Lost Chicago ). Some 170 black-and-white photos illustrate the range of White's talent, from the chalet splendor of the Tiffany mansion (1882) to the Federal style of the Colony Club (1904). Tragically, many of the architect's masterpieces have been demolished. In a well-rounded portrait, Lowe describes White's muder by millionaire Harry Thaw in a love triangle involving showgirl Evelyn Nesbit, and presents White's lifestyle as that of an extravagant gambler and womanizer. (Sept.)

Library Journal

White was one of America's most gifted and prolific designers at the turn of the century, responsible, with his partners Charles McKim and William Mead, for such New York landmarks as Madison Square Garden, Tiffany's, and the Washington Square Arch. In this remarkable book, Lowe paints an unforgettable portrait of the exuberant architect and the dazzling city he inhabited and embellished for over a quarter century. The list of White's friends and clients reads like a who's who of New York society: Joseph Pulitzer, Stuyvesant Fish, Alva Vanderbilt, Elsie de Wolfe, and Augustus St. Gaudens, among others. Lowe's scholarship is impeccable, capturing the spirit of the times and the artistry of White with vigor and grace. Highly recommended.-- H. Ward Jandl, National Park Svce., Washington, D.C.

Booknews

Stanford White (1853-1906) was the architect of opulence in New York City in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, designing the Washington Square Arch; the Players, Metropolitan, and Colony clubs; Madison Square Garden; and the mansions of the Whitneys, Vanderbilts, and Pulitzers. Architectural historian Lowe combines lively, informative text with 150 black-and-white photographs--many never before published--to evoke White's life, times, influences, and impact. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)