Hugo, Victor

Date born:

Place born:

Date died:

Place died:

French romantic author who also wrote about architecture. In 1832 Hugo wrote a book on the famous cathedral in Paris, Notre Dame.

Hugo’s publications were the backdrop for a number of important French illustrators. Among Hugo’s favorite was Célestin Nanteuil (1813–73), who provided the frontispieces for the first edition of Notre-Dame de Paris. Later illustrated editions of Notre-Dame de Paris included those by Louis Boulanger and the Johannot Brothers in 1836, Aimé de Lemud (1816–87) in 1844, and Luc Olivier Merson in 1889. Dessins de Victor Hugo a book of his own drawings, appeared in 1862.

His chapter "Paris à vol d'oiseau" in Notre dame de Paris was the inspiration for topographical analysis of Georgian architecture by John Summerson (q.v.) in Summerson's book of 1946.

Home Country: France

Sources: [regarding his influence on Summerson] Middleton, Robin. "John Summerson." Burlington Magazine 135 (April 1993): 278;

Bibliography: