I was delighted to read about Scarpa’s masterpiece, the Castelvecchio (Inspiration February 1): a case of one hero writing about another.

Castelvecchio museum, Verona by Carlo Scarpa

Source: Ed Tyler

Castelvecchio museum, Verona by Carlo Scarpa

In 1982 I was similarly knocked out by this (then) relatively unknown building and its architect and that led me, together with students from Edinburgh University, to undertake a full measured survey of the whole building and then mount exhibitions in Edinburgh, London and Verona itself.

After more research I completed a book about the building and Scarpa’s drawings and a film for Channel 4, directed by Murray Grigor. That process was repeated for Scarpa’s Venetian masterpiece, the Querini Stampalia.

The book, Carlo Scarpa and the Castelvecchio, published in 1990, is long since out of print. Your readers may be interested to know that I am working with the museum on a new English language edition which will contain many more photographs and have some additional chapters. It is expected to be published this autumn.

Richard Murphy
Edinburgh

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