FROM EMIL KAUFMANN INTRODUCTION
"As late as the 1920's the works of Boullee and Ledoux were discussed only if they had some local interest. Beyond this their works were referred to very briefly, at best, and the authors were commonly disparaged. In an article published in 1929 I attempted to direct attention to their historic significance. Subsequent publications of mine on Ledoux, including the first monograph, were followed by French biographies in 1934 and 1945. As to Boullee and Lequeu, my essays in the Art Bulletin, 1939 and 1949, seem to be the only biographical studies on these two men. Continued research yielded much new material.
Moreover, I will discuss the predecessors of these three men who were also highly interesting personalities, and enter another hitherto neglected field, that of eighteenthcentury I have used are rare and not easily accessible, while others are too lengthy for the average reader. Therefore, selected passages which provide a deeper insight into the thought of the era and reveal the character of their authors have been assembled in my notes. The bibliography lists monographs and essays of general interest; further bibliographical references are included in the notes. Those interested in Ledoux will find here."