Théodore & Jules-Germain Olivier: École Des Beaux-Arts Competition Watercolors (1880-1900) and Project Drawings (1845-1900)

The Drawing Room in East Hampton is pleased to present "Theodore & Jules-Germain Olivier: Ecole des Beaux Arts Competition Watercolors and Project Drawings (1845-1900)", on view July 14 through August 15, 2005. Produced by an important architect and his son active in France during the golden era of industrialization, this collection of drawings offers an unusual view of a traditional 19th century architectural practice in transition to modernity. This body of work has been in a private collection in Toulouse, and is shown here for the first time. An essay by Meredith Martin, PhD candidate, History of Art and Architecture, Harvard University accompanies the exhibition.

As a group, these drawings and watercolors are elevations, plans and cross sections of public commissions of a sophisticated, regional office, which attracted clients seeking to emulate the new Parisian trends in industrial design or, opulent 18th century neoclassicism. Among the projects are an opera house, a racetrack field house with an observation tower, a train station, a winery, a domed theatre and a public bath with a glass cupola.

 See below for full press release and selected works.