Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House:
Architecture as Portraiture
Jack Quinan

The Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, New York, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's earliest and most important masterpieces. Built in the prairie style, this large residential complex was designed, landscaped, and extensively furnished by the architect. The history of its creation, recorded in over 400 letters exchanged between Wright and Martin, forms a fascinating biography not only of the house but of its architect and client.

In this detailed account of the Martin House commission, Quinan mines the Wright-Martin correspondence, along with the physical artifacts and architectural remains of the house, which is currently under restoration, to investigate Wright's often-made claim that his buildings "portray" their clients. The author presents an account of one of Wright's greatest works of "architecture as portraiture" that lends new insight into the ambitions and working methods of this much-studied architect.

Frank Lloyd Wright aficionados will join architects, preservationists, and fans of biography in appreciating the fresh perspective Quinan brings to our understanding of this great American architect and this exceptional house.


Jack Quinan is one of the most important scholars working today on Frank Lloyd Wright. He has devoted more than 12 years to researching and writing this book. He lives I Buffalo, NY.
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Editorial Reviews

Western New York Heritage:
"Jack Quinan has done another masterful job in weaving this real-life story of America's greatest architect and one of his most dependable clients. This is a very well illustrated book that will be required reading for anyone wanting to understand Frank Lloyd Wright's real methods, as opposed to popular myths." (Spring 05)

Taliesin Fellows Newsletter:
"Offers an engrossing narrative of the design, construction, completion, occupation, and alterations of the Martin House. . . . Splendid." (July 2005)

Buffalo News:
"The book boasts more than 100 black-and-white photographs and drawings of the Martin House printed on coated stock, including some never before published. That alone makes it a must-have for Wright aficionados." (11/07/2004)

JSAH:
"With great verve and wonderful imagery, superbly printed in duotone, Quinan reconstructs both the story of the Martin House and the relationship between client and architect." (September 2005)

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