In the first major study to examine Byzantine architecture from the perspective of its builders, Robert Ousterhout identifies the problems Byzantine masons commonly encountered in the process of design and construction. From a careful analysis of the written evidence, the archaeological record, and--most importantly--surviving buildings, he concludes that Byzantine architecture was far more innovative than has previously been acknowledged.
 Following preliminary observations on Byzantine church architecture, Ousterhout examines the textual sources concerning the respective roles of patrons, bureaucrats, and masons in the building process. Narrowing his focus to the masons, or master builders, he clarifies both their theoretical and their very practical concerns in architectural design, suggesting that they relied on geometry and memory, rather than blueprints, to guide their work. Ousterhout explains how masons selected, manufactured, and utilized building materials, ranging from bricks and mortar to roofing tiles. He examines how they built structural elements from the foundation systems to the vaulting. Finally, he situates the richly decorated interiors, sheathed in marble revetments, mosaics, and frescoes, within the purview of the master builder. The study focuses on churches built in the area of Constantinople between the ninth and fifteenth centuries, but it also refers back to earlier works such as Hagia Sophia, and it tracks Byzantine masons as far afield as Russia and Jerusalem. With more than two hundred illustrations--many published for the first time--this is a must read for anyone interested in Byzantine art and architecture.

Master Builders of Byzantium

Arts & Photography

Ousterhout, Robert

Architecture

Princeton University Press

Virtually unknown today, John Henry Haynes (1849-1910) may be regarded as the father of American archaeological photography. In a landmark study, with many photographs published for the first time, Robert Ousterhout rediscovers Hayne's career, assessing his unique blend of artistry and documentation. His photographic odyssey took Haynes across the Ottoman Empire, from Athens to Constantinople, across Anatolia, and ultimately to Mesopotamia. Although he had scant academic credentials and just a short training in 'aesthetic' photography, Haynes broke new ground. In 1900 he uncovered an astounding cache of 23,000 cuneiform tablets that are the foundation of much of what we know about the Sumerian literary tradition. And with his discerning eye and artistic sensibility, he captured astonishing sights, many never photographed before, and many no longer in existence. The victim of rivalry, snobbery and outright skulduggery, he died 'broken in body and spirit'. Professor Ousterhout tells the story of Haynes the unsung hero and assesses his unique contribution with insight and addestion.

John Henry Haynes: A Photographer and Archaeologist in the Ottoman Empire 1881-1900 (1st Edition)

Religion & Spirituality

Cornucopia Books/Caique Publishing

A touchstone of Byzantine artistic achievement, the church now known as the Kariye Camii in Istanbul preserves impressive cycles of mosaic and fresco, for which it is justifiably famous. Once the heart of the Chora Monastery, the building was reconstructed around 1316-21, under the patronage of the Byzantine statesman and scholar Theodore Metochites. Besides its painting and mosaic decoration, the building itself is well-preserved. Enveloped by narthexes, a burial chapel and other additions, and topped by an array of domes, the Kariye Camii stands at the forefront of Late Byzantine architectural developments. This illustrated guide chronicles the building's history and provides a scene-by-scene guide to its spectacular decoration. As the author insists, the art of the Kariye Camii 'is as sophisticated and erudite as a contemporary work of Byzantine literature, structured like a vast epic poem'.

The Art of the Kariye Camii

History & Criticism

Scala Books

Examining Byzantine architecture—primarily churches built in the area of Constantinople between the ninth and fifteenth centuries—from the perspective of its masons, its master builders, Robert Ousterhout identifies the problems commonly encountered in the process of design and construction. He analyzes written evidence, the archaeological record, and especially the surviving buildings, concluding that Byzantine architecture was far more innovative than has previously been acknowledged.
Ousterhout explains how masons selected, manufactured, and utilized materials from bricks and mortar to lead roofing tiles, from foundation systems to roof vaultings. He situates richly decorated church interiors, sheathed in marble revetments, mosaics, and frescoes—along with their complex iconographic programs—within the purview of the master builder, referring also to masons in Russia, the Balkans, and Jerusalem.

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Published 2000, Robert Ousterhout and Nezih Başgelen, hardcover,154 pp. The most comprehensive published collection of early postcards depicting Istanbul's Byzantine monuments, this lavishly illustrated album includes over a hundred views of the city at the turn of the century. More than just curiosities or collectors' items, the cards provide a visual record of the transformation of Istanbul and its ancient sites--documenting the removal and restoration of buildings, the devastation of the great 1894 earthquake, and historic events such as the opening of the Ottoman parliament on 17 December 1908.

Monuments of Unaging Intellect: Historic Postcards of Byzantine Istanbul

Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ousterhout, Robert. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Ousterhout, Robert

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ousterhout, Robert. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Master Builders of Byzantium

John Henry Haynes: A Photographer and Archaeologist in the Ottoman Empire 1881-1900 (1st Edition)

The Art of the Kariye Camii

Master Builders of Byzantium

Monuments of Unaging Intellect: Historic Postcards of Byzantine Istanbul