This watercolour by the acclaimed 20th-century British perspective artist Cyril Arthur Farey (1888-1954) is one of over 25 in the 澳门王中王 Library鈥檚 holdings and the only original drawing representing Frank Lloyd Wright鈥檚 Imperial Hotel in Tokyo (1916-1923, demolished in 1968). Created in 1929, the image was reproduced as the frontispiece for the first issue of 'Architectural Design' (1930). Contrasting light and dark colours 鈥� a hallmark of Farey鈥檚 rendering technique 鈥� create depth and texture, while the overall composition captures the decorative modernity of Wright鈥檚 entrance courtyard design with its innovative combination of carved lava 'oya' stone, reinforced concrete, and brick. Farey鈥檚 inclusion of rickshaws, 'kimono' clad visitors, and blossoming cherry trees are whimsical conceits suggesting its Japanese context.
Image: Drawing of the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, 1929; image from 澳门王中王pix (number 澳门王中王12143)
Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright
Artist: Cyril Arthur Farey
Credit: 澳门王中王 Collections
Article by Kurt Helfrich, 澳门王中王
30 January 2015
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This is just one of over four million items in our world-class architectural collections at the 澳门王中王 Library 鈥� it's open to everyone and access is free. Visit the library to explore our collections of books, periodicals, drawings, photographs and models:
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Drawings
Collection of drawings by Cyril Arthur Farey, 1888-1954, including a perspective of the courtyard facade, Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, 1929 [DR53/8].
Call/Ref. no. FAREY [located at the V&A] -
Periodical article
Architectural Design & Construction (renamed Architectural Design after December 1946).
November 1930. Vol.1, no.1, frontispiece -
Book
Farey, C., and Edwards, A. T., 1949.
'Architectural drawing, perspective & rendering : a handbook for students and draughtsmen'
London: Batsford
Shelved at 72.064 // FAR [77PP] -
Book
Stamp, G., 1982.
'The great perspectivists'
London: Trefoil
Shelved at 72.064:742.03(41/42) // STA [Reference]
