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Mario Praz

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An Illustrated History of Interior Decoration: From Pompeii to Art Nouveau Paperback – January 1, 1995

by Mario Praz (Author)

4.2 21 ratings

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Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Illustrated is an understatement; Praz uses 400 pieces of art to present his 1982 history of furniture and decorations from olden days to modern times. An unusual but interesting history of the subject.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thames & Hudson (January 1, 1995)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 388 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0500278156
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0500278154
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.15 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,167,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #237 in Interior Design Style
- #689 in Historic Architectural Preservation
- #3,816 in Interior Design

Customer Reviews:
4.2 21 ratings

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4.2 out of 5

21 global ratings

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A. Wood

oops, boogered again. The review that was meant for this mario Praz

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2013

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The review that was meant for this Mario Praz book was put on "The Romantic Agony" -- but they are both very fine books and actually my review has similarities for both. This one is beter for reference if you are researching objects, the other better for the Zeitgeist.

2 people found this helpful

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Sergio Andrés - Designer at Pharaoun

An Art History of Interior Design

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2023

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First published in 1964, Mario Praz’s An Illustrated History of Interior Decoration (also known as An Illustrated History of Furnishings) is the most cited source of inspiration for interior design. As an art historian who loves interiors, Mario has dissected hundreds of paintings and watercolors that are exceptional for their inclusions of interiors as a background or central theme.

Starting with Pompeiian frescos, but focusing on European interiors from the 19th century, he has created an incredible catalog with detailed descriptions that is a timeless source of inspiration.

Highlights include John Nash’s drawings of the Brighton Pavilion, the album of watercolors from the Wittgenstein family, and Eugène Lami’s watercolors of the Rothschild’s Château de Ferrières. This book is a must have for anyone serious about interior design, and serves as an incredible source book for period design and inspiration.

2 people found this helpful

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DC customer

Illustrations are a big disappointment

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2018

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The text is fine, but the illustrations are really disappointing. Mostly black and white, and not that great. If you have time to look up the cited works online, you'll probably find nice color photographs. Too bad the publisher didn't think to include them in the book.

8 people found this helpful

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Charles De Roche

To compensate for all the bad reviews

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2018

I believe Charlotte Gere wrote in one of her introductions that anyone who writes a book on the history of interior decoration owes Mario Praz a debt of gratitude. I won't pretend to be a scholar in any sense of the word, but I love this book. Yes, it is exclusively Eurocentric. Yes, there is is an emphasis on 19th century interiors (it appears that was it when interior view portraiture became the thing). This book was originally published in 1964 and, unfortunately, a great many of the reproductions are in black and white - though it appears Praz was careful in his selection. It probably had something to do with the expense of production back then and subsequent editions never corrected this. IT'S THE AUTHOR'S descriptive powers that make this book a gem. Anecdotally rich and well-informed and well-written. There's a dash of history, often a commentary of the occupants incidentally depicted, backgrounds on the painter themselves and often a little background information on the buildings themselves. I find something new every time I open the thing and often open a page randomly as a go-to when I need to relax (granted, I have a great interest in the subject itself and how those interiors relate to the period more broadly). Are subsequent publications on the subject overall better? Generally, yes. But I can't escape the author's obvious passion for the subject and the scope of his knowledge. I think we forget to judge people against their particular time in place (I believe Praz died in 1983) and what they achieved within those confines. I don't write good reviews often (things are way overrated) and I certainly don't use the word "classic." This is "the" classic on its subject matter. A word on the various editions that have come out over the years. I, incidentally, came across a review of the book from the early 1980's (can you believe this thing cost $75.00 back THEN. No wonder the black and white reproductions) and referred to later editions as "lipsticky." A strange term that I don't quite understand. I have compared some of the editions (all English) and the best is the 1964 "An Illustrated History of Furnishing" published by George Braziller. The tonal qualities of both colored and b/w reproductions as well as clarity are, indeed, the best. The 1982 edition is in second place and that is entitled "An Illustrated History of Interior Decoration." In some ways the recent edition is better, but the reproductions are the worse of the lot. Actually, the paperback edition is the worse of the lot - though I own several copies. It's a very portable edition of the hardcover with a tight well-constructed binding; but the reduced-sized illustrations are not as enjoyable and both clarity and tonal qualities leave something to be desired (but, again, it's a very portable edition and that makes up for it shortcomings). The print size of the commentary is also smaller for those older folks and the last sentence of one caption appears to have been cut-off its entirety couldn't fit the page even with the smaller font size. I must emphasize that I'm no scholar, but I find this book to be immensely enjoyable even with its limitations. It has certainly placed the Mario Praz museum on my bucket list of things to see if I should ever get to Rome.

8 people found this helpful

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reviewer from Los Angeles

what an amazing volume!

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2010

This book covered everything I was curious about relating to design as a lay person. Through redecorating my own home, I became very curious about furniture, molding, fabric and other details and kept wondering what the differences were really about between all the styles and their history. Most of us laypeople just get a sense when a room "works" or "does not work" but lack the historical perspective. Beautifully illustrated, the book itself is visibly the work of a master and passionate soul - I read on Wikipedia that Mario Praz started collecting chairs when he was 13 years old or so!

3 people found this helpful

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sherri j. thorne

This is The Premier Book on Interior Decoration!

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2000

If you want to get an excellent idea about the history of the domestic interior, this is the book for you. Every type of dwelling is to be found, with exquisite detail. From the very simple, to the palatial, one finds great delight in these wonderful watercolors. Culled from the domestic interiors of Europe, the Continent, Russia and America, these historic records give the reader an extrodinary glimpse into the past. It is an accurate record of the most minute details, from the floors to the paintings on the walls. Scholarly enough for students of Interior Design? Yes; but why should they have all the fun?

12 people found this helpful

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Blue Ridge

GREAT BOOK, BUT MOSTLY BLACK & WHITE

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2011

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Of the 400 illustrations in this excellent book, only 64 are in color, & most of those are less than a page in size. At least that's true of my 1981 Thames & Hudson used hardback . I was quite disappointed by that when the book arrived, so want to warn other enthusiasts in advance. I've been looking but so far haven't found a possible later edition with more color. Still, I'm glad I own this mostly black and white copy!

18 people found this helpful

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Marie

disappointing

Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2014

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Very centered on Victorian, English interior decoration, so disappointing as content not as implied by title

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