Charles Garnier's Opéra : A Total Work Of Art

In 1878, three years after the inauguration of his monument, Charles Garnier wrote in his Nouvel Opéra: "Opera is a rich art - a synthesis of the arts - and the place in which men come to enjoy it must prepare, accompany, complete their pleasure. The building must be in unison [...]. A century and a half later, the Opéra Garnier, whose brilliant architect had thought of every corner, continues to amaze the visitor, dazzled by a succession of architectural shocks: the gold of the façade, the polyphony of the marbles, the extraordinary statuary adorning the pediments, loggias and forecourts, and the grand staircase all contribute to announcing the show that is about to take place on stage.

This richly illustrated book offers an exhaustive discovery of the Opera through its secret mazes. All the works, paintings and sculptures, as well as the techniques and materials, are listed.