History of art Books

Book SynopsisThe reader Art and its global histories represents an invaluable teaching tool, offering content ranging from academic essays and excerpts, new translations, interviews with curators and artists, to art criticism. The introduction sets out the state of art history today as it undergoes the profound shift of a 'global turn'. Particular focus is given to British India, which represents a shift from the usual attention paid to Orientalism and French art in this period. The sources and debates on this topic have never before been brought together in a satisfactory way and this book will represent a particularly significant and valuable contribution for postgraduate and undergraduate art history teaching.Table of ContentsIntroductionSection One: Confronting Art History: Overviews, Perspectives and Reflections Introduction Critical Approaches1.1 Orientalisma) Edward W. Said, ‘Introduction – Section II’ , Orientalism b) Linda Nochlin, ‘The Imaginary Orient’1.2 Homi K. Bhabha, The Location of Culture a) ‘The Other Question: Stereotype, Discrimination and the Discourse of Colonialism’b) ‘Articulating the Archaic: Cultural Difference and Colonial Nonsense’1.3 New perspectives and approaches in Art Historya) Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann, ‘The Geography of Art: Historiography, Issues, and Perspectives’ b) James Elkins, ‘Why Art History is Global’ c) Parul Dave Mukherji, ‘Whither Art History in a Globalizing World’ Section Two: European art and the Wider World c. 1350–1550Introduction Primary Source texts2.1. Europeans describing Amerindian artists in Mexicoa) Allè, Francesco da Bologna, letter sent from Mexico to Padre Clemente Dolera da Moneglia, head of the Order of Conventual Franciscans in Bologna, and other friars of the orderb) Bernal Díaz, The Conquest of New Spainc) Bartolomé de Las Casas, ‘Indian Houses, Featherwork and Silverwork’2.2 Albrecht Dürer, ‘Part II: Diary of a Journey the Netherlands (July, 1520 – July, 1521)', Memoirs of Journeys to Venice and the Low Countries2.3 Sources on proposed work by Leonardo and Michelangelo for the Ottoman Sultansa) Leonardo da Vinci, undated letter to Sultan Bayezid II b) Tommaso di Tolfo in Edirne (in Ottoman Turkey) to Michelangelo in Florencec) Ascanio Condivi, ‘Life of Michelangelo’2.4 Gifts to Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence from the Gifts from Qaytbay, the Mamluk Sultan in Cairoa) L. Landucci, Diario fiorentino dal 1450 al 1516 continuato da un anonimo fino al 1542b) Paolo Giovio, Gli elogi. Vite brevemente scritte d’huomini illustri di guerra, antichi et moderni2.5 Travel Narrativesa) Vasco da Gama, ‘A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama 1497–1499’b) Duarte de Sande, ‘An Excellent Treatise of the Kingdom of China’c) Giovanni da Empoli, extract of a letter to his fatherd) Duarte Barbosa, ‘The Great City of Bisnagua’Critical Approaches2.6 Claire Farago, ‘Reframing the Renaissance Problem Today: Developing a Pluralistic Historical Vision’2.7 Avinoam Shalem, ‘Dangerous Claims On the ‘Othering’ of Islamic Art History and How it Operates within Global Art History’ 2.8 Luca Molà and Marta Ajmar-Wollheim, ‘The Global Renaissance: Cross-Cultural Objects in the Early Modern Period’ 2.9 Jack Goody, ‘The Idea of the Renaissance’Section Three: Art, Commerce and Colonialism: 1600–1800 Introduction Primary Source texts3.1 Johan Huyghen van Linschoten on Goa, from Iohn Huighen van Linschoten. his discours of voyages into ye Easte & West Indies Deuided into foure books3.2 Texts on Colonial Latin American arta) Extract from the First Provincial Council in Lima 1551–52b) Extract from Padre Antonio de Vega Loaiza, Historia del Colegio y Universidad de San Ignacio de Loyola en la Ciudad de Cuscoc) Letter from the Viceroy of Peru Manuel Amat y Junyent to Crown official Julián de Arriaga accompanying a shipment of Casta paintings to the collection of the Royal Cabinet of Natural History 1770d) Picture caption by Diego Rivera, from The Arts in Latin America 1492–18203.3 Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo on Amsterdam, from Adam Olearius, The voyages and travells of the ambassadors sent by Frederick, Duke of Holstein, to the Great Duke of Muscovy and the King of Persia…3.4 Texts on Chinoiserie in Britain.a) A catalogue of all the rich and elegant household furniture, …late the property of Her Grace the Duchess of Kingston, deceased…at Thorseby Park…Which will be sold by auction, by Mr. Christie …on Wednesday, 10th June 1789b) Oliver Goldsmith, ‘Letter XIV on Chinoiserie’ in The citizen of the world; or Letters from a Chinese philosopher, residing in London, to his friends in the East 3.5 Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginiaa) 14 Lawsb) Query 19 Colleges, Buildings, Roads, &c.Critical Approaches3.6 Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann, ‘Painting of the Kingdoms: A global view of the cultural field’3.7 Benjamin Schmidt, ‘Mapping an Exotic World: The Global Project of Dutch Cartography, circa 1700’ 3.8 David Porter, ‘A Wanton Chase in a Foreign Place: Hogarth and the Gendering of Exoticism in the Eighteenth-Century Interior’3.9 Daniel Maudlin and Bernard L. Herman, ‘Introduction’ in Building the British Atlantic World: Spaces, Places, and Material Culture, 1600–1850 Section Four: Empire and Art: British India Introduction Primary Source texts4.1 Did India have an authentic, truly Indian tradition of fine art? The contentious issue of Gandharan arta) Alexander Cunningham, Archaeological Survey of India. Report for the Year 1871–72, Vol. 3b) Raja Rajendralal Mitra, Indo-Aryans: Contributions Towards the Elucidation of Their Ancient and Mediaeval Historyc) James Fergusson, Archaeology in India, with Special Reference to the Works of Babu Rajendralal Mitrad) Sister Nivedita, ‘Introduction’ in Kakuzo Okakura (ed.) The Ideals of the East with Special Reference to the Art of Japan 4.2 Neo-Orientalism, Nationalism and Pan-Asianisma) E. B. Havell, ‘The New Indian School of Painting’b) Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, ‘The Aim of Indian Art’c) Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, ‘Art of the East and of the West’4.3 Ravi Varma – The first modern Indian Artista) Balendranath Tagore, ‘Ravi Varma’b) Ramananda Chatterjee, ‘Ravi Varma’4.4 The Modern, Internal Primitivism and Hinduizationa) Roger Fry, ‘Oriental Art’b) Vincent A. Smith, A History of Fine Art in India & Ceylon4.5 Authentic Indian Designsa) George Birdwood, The Industrial Arts of India, Part 1b) George Birdwood, The Industrial Arts of India, Part 2c) Thomas Holbein Hendley, ‘Decorative Arts in Rajputana’d) Thomas Holbein Hendley, ‘The Opening of the Albert Hall and Museum in Jeypore’Critical Approaches4.6 Tim Barringer, Geoff Quilley and Douglas Fordham, ‘Introduction’ in Art and the British Empire4.7 Theodore Koditschek, ‘Race Struggles’4.8 Lee Lawrence, ‘The Other Half of Indian Art History: A Study of Photographic Illustrations in Orientalist and Nationalist Texts’4.9 Carol A. Breckenridge, ‘The Aesthetics and Politics of Colonial Collecting: India at World Fairs’4.10 Christopher Pinney, ‘The Material and Visual Culture of British India’Section Five: Art after Empire: From Colonialism to Globalisation Introduction Primary Sources5.1 Modernism and Primitivisma) Maurice de Vlaminck, ‘Discovery of African Art’b) Emil Nolde, ‘On Primitive Art’c) Andre Breton et al., ‘Murderous Humanitarianism’5.2 Mexican Muralismd) David Alfaro Siqueiros, ‘A Declaration of Social, Political and Aesthetic Principles’e) Interview with Alberto Hijar Serrano, Researcher of Plastic Arts of the National Institute of Fine ArtsCritical Approaches5.3 Terry Smith, ‘The Provincialism Problem’5.4 Stuart Hall, ‘Museums of Modern Art and the End of History’ 5.5 Okwui Enwezor, ‘The Postcolonial Constellation: Contemporary Art is a State of Permanent Transition’5.6 Chin-Tao Wu, ‘Biennials without Borders’5.7 Hito Steyerl, ‘Politics of Art: Contemporary Art and the Transition to Post-Democracy'Index

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Book SynopsisThe hidden fabric of a Victorian woman''s life told through her unique scrapbook.In 1838, Anne Sykes was given a diary on her wedding day. Using it to collect snippets of fabric, she created a record of her life and times. Nearly two hundred years later, the diary fell into the hands of fashion historian Kate Strasdin who spent the next six years unravelling the secrets contained within its pages.Piece by piece, she charts Anne''s life and times. Fragments of cloth become windows into Victorian life: pirates in Borneo, the complicated etiquette of mourning, poisonous dyes, the British Empire in full swing, rioting over working conditions and the terrible human cost of Britain''s cotton industry. Through the evidence of waistcoats, ball gowns and mourning outfits, Strasdin lays bare the whole of human experience in the most intimate of mediums: the clothes we choose to wear.Flawless' Amber ButchartFascinating' Clare HunterIrresistible' The

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Book SynopsisJohn Berger, one of the world's most celebrated storytellers and writers on art, tells a personal history of art from the prehistoric paintings of the Chauvet caves to 21st century conceptual artists. Berger presents entirely new ways of thinking about artists both canonized and obscure, from Rembrandt to Henry Moore, Jackson Pollock to Picasso. Throughout, Berger maintains the essential connection between politics, art and the wider study of culture. The result is an illuminating walk through many centuries of visual culture, from one of the contemporary world's most incisive critical voices.Trade ReviewJohn Berger's "Portraits" is among the greatest books on art I've ever read. -- Zadie Smith * New York Times *A volume whose breadth and depth bring it close to a definitive self-portrait of one of Britain's most original thinkers -- Financial TimesPerhaps the greatest living writer on art . reminds us just how insufficient most art commentary is these days . an indispensible guide to understanding art from cave painting to today's experimenters. -- Spectator [Books of the Year]In this extraordinary new book, John Berger embarks on a process of re-discovery and re-figuring of history through the visual narratives given to us by portraiture. Berger's ability for storytelling is both incisive and intriguing. He is one of the greatest writers of our time. -- Hans Ulrich Obrist, author of 'Ways of Curating'Berger's art criticism transcends its genre to become a very rare thing-literature * The Nation *Berger is a writer one demands to know more about ... an intriguing and powerful mind and talent. * New York Times *Much of his best critical prose appears in [this] chunky volume * Economist *

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Book SynopsisNew Ways: The Founding of Modernism features the rise during the interwar period of a group of engineers, architects, sculptors, ceramicists, artists, furniture-makers, craftsmen and patrons to the forefront of British art and design. Important to the Founding of Modernism was the cooperation between a group of emigre architects and engineers, and their home-grown counterparts who, between them, found ways to bring into being the strict geometric and modernistic forms that were demanded by the Movement. In the 1920s, the technology of concrete casting was developing very rapidly as was that of steel reinforcement and new developments gave rise to greater possibilities for structures. Initially, expertise, and then the promotion of this new technology to architects and their clients, fell to a number of specialist overseas contracting companies. The early decades of the twentieth century in the UK saw, in place of an architect to contractor relationship, a rise of the new profession of consultant structural engineer. Up to this point, architects had fulfilled the role of both building designer and engineer. The British Modern Movement was profoundly influenced by this group of European emigre architects and engineers, some of whom remained in the UK thus ensuring that the Modern Movement re-emerged and continued in the UK once peace returned to Europe after WWII. Through an expert combination of words and illustrations, the author weaves an illuminating tapestry of people and structures in all sectors of life from residential to worship, media to entertainment, commerce and more thus creating a forceful appreciation of the movement. This fertile period of art, architecture and design was typified by a great commonality of purpose between designers, their clients and patrons. Buildings and artefacts were produced such that their designers might appreciate and wish them for their own use, especially in housebuilding and home-making. Friendships and associations by Modernists in allied professions presented a unified approach to design and patronage.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Living in Aspirational Style; Places of Exhibition and Entertainment; Places and Symbols of Worship; Seaside and Leisure Places; Places of New Media; Travelling in Style; Public Buildings; Buildings for Commerce; Academic Buildings; Conclusion; Index of Works

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Book SynopsisArlene Dávila draws on numerous interviews with artists, dealers, and curators to explore how and why the contemporary international art market continues to overlook, devalue, and marginalize Latinx art and artists.Trade Review“In this current moment of national rupture surrounding the Latino immigrant it is ironic that the new focus on Latinx artists and communities should come to the forefront as a powerful cultural movement. Arlene Dávila’s new work on Latinx art is a timely examination of the complex issues of cultural definition, art markets, race and representation, and geopolitical reference points. In the embattled world of diverse art and artists Dávila's book provides a map of clarity.” -- Amalia Mesa-Bains, MacArthur fellow and coauthor of * Homegrown: Engaged Cultural Criticism *“Kudos to Arlene Dávila, founding director of the Latinx Project at New York University, and the only person who could have written this groundbreaking new book! First, identifying Latinx, perhaps most importantly, as a political constituency and as a market for art historical appreciation and consumption, Dávila makes the case for a singular recognition and consideration of a massive (and rapidly growing) part of American culture. While highlighting intersectionality in her exploration of Latinx identity, she is an astute documentarian of shared experiences in the American landscape. Yet, this book is a must-have primer for those concerned with trends in international contemporary art.” -- Franklin Sirmans, Director, Pérez Art Museum Miami"An indispensable text that considers the plights of Latinx artists through the lens of race and class disparities in both North and South America. . . . Dávila’s text is a vital resource on Latinx art, complete with a supplemented 'non-comprehensive list of artists everyone should know' and recommendations of Latinx Instagram accounts to follow." -- Valentina Di Liscia * Hyperallergic *"The marketing of modern and contemporary art from Latin America is one of the success stories of the globalist decades, giving a once-niche interest a presence in big North American museums. Exactly the opposite is true of Latinx art, loosely defined as work made by artists of Latin American birth or descent who live primarily in the United States. That lack of institutional support is dictated by the politics of class, economics and race, the cultural anthropologist Arlene Dávila argues in this important broadside of a book." -- Holland Cotter * New York Times *"An outstanding contribution to the field of Latinx art, this book addresses the defining traits of the art category and its place in the contemporary art world. . . . The wide range of Latinx art experts she interviews, from artists, curators, writers, critics and gallerists, draw the contours of a remarkably vibrant cultural field that is still undervalued. Her analysis not only dissects the conditions of Latinx artistic invisibility; it also proposes a path of action to overcome them and to create a more equitable art system." -- Taína Caragol * Smithsonian Magazine *"With deep research and details about the ways in which the market continues to overlook and undervalue the work of Latinx artists, Arlene Dávila’s Latinx Art is one of this year’s most important contributions to the art world as a whole. . . . That this book exists is itself an important milestone in the struggle for equity in the art world." -- Maximilíano Durón * ARTnews *"Arlene Dávila advances a groundbreaking analysis of Latinx art in the way she centers on matters of race, class, and nationality as primordial to understanding this category. . . . As a scholar independent of the art world’s social circuit, Dávila describes in great detail the ingrained power dynamics that deny institutional access to Latinx artists. In doing so, she delivers an unprecedented service to the field, considering the silencing force exerted by hierarchical structures that traverse the art world, and the artists’ reliance on good relations with gatekeepers in order to have any shot at exhibition and market spaces." -- Taína Caragol * Latin American and Latinx Visual Culture *“Latinx Art is appropriate for new and nonacademic audiences, because Dávila is one of the most accessible scholarly authors. . . . A must-read for Latinx studies students and scholars and beyond.” -- Karen Mary Davalos * Latino Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments & Reader Instructions vii Introduction. Making Latinx Art 1 1. What Is Latinx Art? Lessons from Chicanx and Diasporican Artists 23 2. Exhibiting Latinx Art: On Critics, Curators, and Going "Beyond the Formula" 48 3. Nationalism and the Currency of Categories 79 4. On Markets and the Need for Cheerleaders 104 5. Whitewashing at Work, and Some Ways Out 138 Conclusion: At the Vanguard of Arts and Museum Activism in the Twenty-First Century 168 Appendix A: Noncomprehensive List of Artists Everyone Should Know 177 Appendix B: Additional Resources 185 Notes 189 References 203 Index 223

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Book SynopsisThis richly illustrated and beautifully produced scholarly catalogue of the superlative collection of Renaissance and Baroque bronze figurative statuettes from the Hill collection accompanies an exhibition of the collection at the Frick Collection, New York, opening late January 2014. Spanning from 1470 to 1740, the bronzes presented are of exceptional quality and exemplify the development of bronze statuettes from 1470 in Renaissance Italy to their dissemination across the artistic centres of Europe. The Hill Collection is distinguished by rare, autograph masterpieces by Italian sculptors such as Andrea Riccio and Giambologna, and has the most important collection of Baroque Bronzes by Giuseppe Piamontini in the world. Its holding of works by the Giambologna school is the strongest found in any single collection, with the sole exception of the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence. These evoke the splendour of the late Renaissance courts, while the richness of the international BAroque is represented by religious themes by Alessandro Algardi, northern bronzes by Adriaen de Vries and Hubert Gerhard, and a remarkable assemblage of French 16th- and early 17th-century bronzes in the classical mode by Barthélemny Prieur and from the circle of Ponce Jacquiot.The Hill Collection reveals the range of artistry, invention and technical refinement characteristic of sculptures created when the tradition of the European statuette was at its height.The catalogue includes detailed biographies of each of the artists represented, and is introduced with essays by the distinguished authors. Patricia Wengraf is one of the world's leading dealers in bronzes, scuplture and works of art, and in her particular speciality, bronzes of the 15th-18th centuries, her knowledge and connoisseurship are of world repute. Denise Allen is Curator of Renaissance Paintings and Sculpture at the Frick Collection. Claudia Kryza-Gersch, formerly at the Kunstkammer, Vienna, is an independent scholar renowned for her studies of North Italian bronzes of the 16th and 17th centuries. Dimitrios Zikos, in Florence, an independent scholar renowned for his knowledge of the Florentine archives from c. 1550 to 1740, has curate many exhibitions at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence. Rupert Harris is the leading conservator of metalwork and sculpture in the UK.

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Book SynopsisThe Art of Horizon Zero Dawn is the ultimate gallery of thehotly anticipated new IP from Guerrilla Games (Killzoneseries). It focuses on the stunning artwork used to developthe game, and includes over 300 images, sketches, andconcept art, commentary throughout from the artists andcreators. This is an in-depth insight into a world asbeautiful as it is dangerous.Trade Review"Horizon: Zero Dawn isn't just a very good game, it's a very pretty game" Kotaku "The Art of Horizon Zero Dawn is a beautiful accompaniment to this amazing game and if you're a fan of this game or video game art in general, this books is filled with stunning imagery and information" Impulse Gamer review "a beautiful book that depicts just how gorgeous this game truly is" Gamers Sphere review "Horizon Zero Dawn's art book is as beautiful as the game" Polygon feature "very good at what it does, providing background context to what makes Horizon Zero Dawn so visually appealing." Adventures in Poor Taste "At 192 pages, this hardback book is a beautiful and packed from cover to cover with incredible artwork. I can't find a single thing to call out in a negative way with this book -- it's simply perfect." Gaming Trend "This is easily one of the most top rate art books in my vast collection." Enemy Slime "the post-post-apocalypse has never looked so beautiful" VG Blogger

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Book SynopsisGet Your Shit Together is the first book that exclusively features recent artwork in color by beloved British artist David Shrigley. This volume celebrates Shrigley’s absurd, deadpan sensibility through both his signature drawing style and accompanying text. Organized by chapters with titles such as Stupid, Nonsense, Dirt, Fear, Paranoia, Love, and Self Delusion, this collection is sure to delight die-hard Shrigley fans and new ones alike. This is the largest-format book to date on Shrigley’s prolific work, and features design details such as a ribbon marker with one of his mordant sayings printed on it, as well as hand-written, humorous essays throughout.

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Book SynopsisNow available again, this visually stunning collection of Gustav Klimt's landscape paintings brings to light a lesser-known aspect of the Viennese painter's oeuvre. While Gustav Klimt is largely revered for his opulent, symbolladen portraits of the Viennese bourgeoisie, these works were just one aspect of his artistic expression. His landscapes represent an important facet of his career and are a valuable contribution to the school of European nature painting. For many years the artist travelled to the Austrian and Italian countryside during the summer, where he took advantage of the extraordinary light and spectacular hues to paint and sketch landscapes. Among the most exquisite of Klimt's landscapes are those in which he experimented with composition and style. Accompanied by scholarly essays, the images reproduced in this book comprise all extant landscapes from this brilliant artist, proving that his mastery extends beyond portraiture and revealing themes that appeared throughout his life's work.

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Book SynopsisLucian Freud (19222011), widely regarded as the greatest figurative painter of our time, spent seven months painting a portrait of the art critic Martin Gayford. The daily narrative of their encounters takes us into that most private place, the artist's studio, and to the heart of the working methods of this modern master both technical and subtly psychological. From this emerges an understanding of what a portrait is, but something else is also built up: a portrait, in words, of Freud himself. Full of wry and revealing observations, this is a book not quite like any other: the inside story of how it feels to pose for a remarkable artist, and be transformed into a work of art.Trade Review'One of the best books about art, and the making of art, that I have ever read' - Julian Barnes'Freud is vividly surprising, potent and dynamic ... a portrait of an anarchic painter with views on everything from Leonardo’s failings to Princess Margaret’s voice' - Observer'If it is Freud who dominates this book, it is Gayford’s achievement to bring him out and to do so with wit and humour as well as acute intelligence ... literally inimitable' - Guardian

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Book SynopsisFrom its birth in the 7th century through modern times, the Islamic religion has inspired glorious works of art. This stunning book includes more than four hundred reproductions of treasures of Islamic art that span the world: from southern Europe, along the entire Mediterranean basin to sub-Saharan Africa through the Middle East, India, and Central Asia. Arranged geographically, the objects include paintings, miniatures, ceramics, calligraphy, textiles, carpets, and metal works. Each region is given a thorough introduction that offers historical context and extensive descriptions of its artifacts. Accompanying essays offer guidance in interpreting the many themes that tie these works together, including typology, calligraphy, and religious beliefs. With its large format, exquisite reproductions, and extensive research, this book is a thorough introduction to the Islamic artistic tradition.Trade Review"The subheading of this weighty volume gives a sense of the sheer breadth it covers in its survey of three continents across 14 centuries." —Crafts Council

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Book SynopsisHe's one of the most enduring characters across all popular cultureand this collection of The Incredible Hulk Nos. 16, along with his appearances in Tales to Astonish, is where it all began. The lavish reproduction of the original comics brings Hulk to rampaging yet sorrowful life alongside original artwork, rare photographs, and ephemera.

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Book SynopsisPhilip Hook takes the lid off the world of art dealing to reveal the brilliance, cunning, greed and daring of its practitioners. In a richly anecdotal narrative he describes the rise and occasional fall of the extraordinary men and women who over the centuries have made it their business to sell art to kings, merchants, nobles, entrepreneurs and museums. From its beginnings in Antwerp, where paintings were sometimes sold by weight, to the rich hauteur of the contemporary gallery in London, Paris and New York, art dealing has been about identifying what is intangible but infinitely desirable, and then finding clients for whom it is irresistible. Those who have purveyed art for a living range from tailors, spies and the occasional anarchist to scholars, aristocrats, merchants and connoisseurs, each variously motivated by greed, belief in their own vision of art and its history, or simply the will to win. The cast of characters includes Paul Durand-Ruel, the Impressionists' champion; Herwath Walden, who first brought Modernism into the limelight; Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, high priest of Cubism; Leo Castelli, dealer-midwife to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art; and Peter Wilson, the charismatic Sotheby's chairman who made the auction room theatre. Philip Hook's history is one of human folly, greed and duplicity, interspersed with ingenuity, inspiration and acts of heroism. Rogues' Gallery is learned, witty and irresistibly readable.Trade ReviewHook...writes suavely and racily...has a fabulous ear for anecdotes...his entertaining book has a Wodehousian tone that makes even the most heinous act it describes glint with comedy -- Waldemar Januszczak * Sunday Times *Fascinating and elegantly written...both wise and timely -- William Boyd * Guardian *Wonderfully entertaining...full of cracking stories -- Hannah Rothschild * Mail on Sunday *Fascinating...Hook writes with honesty and wry detachment -- Robert Eustace * Telegraph *A pleasure to read -- Michael Prodger * Times *Illuminating...combines expertise with irreverence -- Christian House * Observer *Fascinating -- Roger Lewis * Daily Mail *Entertainingly written -- Bendor Grosvenor * Apollo Magazine *Hook writes...eloquently and knowledgeably...witty and erudite * World of Interiors *Remarkable -- Fkorence Hallett * The Arts Desk *Praise for Breakfast at Sotheby's 'This book is a learned and thoughtful work of art history, but it also 'investigates in prurient detail the guilty but ever-fascinating relationship between art and money' with great wit * Daily Mail *A cultured, witty, clear-eyed, worldly teacher with a fully functioning sense of humour. A real delight. -- William Boyd * Spectator *He writes better about the physical nature and impact of painting than anyone I have read for years. -- Grey Gowrie * Daily Telegraph *Authoritative without being pompous and happy to mock his trade's absurdities, he explores offbeat subjects ... Even those who don't know much about art will find lots to like here. * Guardian *A breezy, whimsical and often wry compendium, chock-full of hard-won wisdom about what makes someone spend millions of dollars to buy an artwork at auction. * New York Times *Mr Hook's] delightful Breakfast at Sotheby's is a house sale of a book, a chance for him to clear out 35 years of memories as an art dealer and auctioneer, first at Christie's and then Sotheby's, a rival auction house. Besides the colourful stories, Mr Hook offers various theories about the art world, and keen insight on that vexing question of what gives art value. Amid the well-known answers (provenance, colour, "wall power") are some less obvious observations, both relevant and delightful. * Economist *It's very hard to write an amusing book about art that has some serious things to say. But Philip Hook has done it. * Sunday Times Books of the Year *A winner. Readers will learn more about the modern art market in this simple book than in any college course. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisNo other artist, apart from J. M. W. Turner, tried as hard as Claude Monet (1840–1926) to capture light itself on canvas. Of all the Impressionists, it was the man Cézanne called “only an eye, but my God what an eye!” who stayed true to the principle of absolute fidelity to the visual sensation, painting directly from the object. It could be said that Monet reinvented the possibilities of color. Whether it was through his early interest in Japanese prints, his time as a conscript in the dazzling light of Algeria, or his personal acquaintance with the major painters of the late 19th century, the work Monet produced throughout his long life would change forever the way we perceive both the natural world and its attendant phenomena. The high point of his explorations was the late series of water lilies, painted in his own garden at Giverny, which, in their approach towards almost total formlessness, are really the origin of abstract art. This biography does full justice to this most remarkable and profoundly influential artist, and offers numerous reproductions and archive photos alongside a detailed and insightful commentary.Trade Review“This is the only readily available publication that gives a complete record of Monet’s work—in other words, it is definitive.” * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisThis is a collection of sporting prints lampooning the work of expert draughtsmen such as Stubbs, Rowlandson, Fernley and Pollard. Thelwell, the creator of the cartoon character Penelope, has a superb eye for detail and for the relationship between humans and animals.

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Book SynopsisThis is the black and white paperback edition of Pattern, published in hardback in 2016 by Saltyard Books.If you would like the original colour illustrated version of Pattern it is available in hardback ISBN 9781444734942. Creativity, collaboration, inspirationEmma Bridgewater''s patterns are as quintessentially British as marmalade on toast - and they have made her distinctive homewares best sellers across the world.Her inspiration is often deeply personal - a plate of her mother''s, a favourite children''s book - and as she tells the stories of each pattern''s creation, she reveals the intricate processes of research and collaboration behind the familiar designs she has stamped on our kitchenware - and our hearts - for the past thirty years.Both an entrancing trip down memory lane and a behind-the-scenes look at a thriving creative business, Emma Bridgewater''s PATTERN is essential reading for anyone who has ever turnTrade ReviewEmma's recollections about the geneses of her iconic spongeware patterns - from multi-coloured polka dots to leaping rabbits - are well written, revealing and charming... the patterns in this book are largely Emma's own, hence her meandering reveries, which elevate this book from a mere catalogue of designs to something of a memoir. * House & Garden *Beautiful... Emma would modestly describe herself, not as a master potter, but as a 'grubby industrialist with a factory making useful everyday ware'. But really, that self-effacing description fails to capture the delight and charm of the uniquely British brand celebrated in Pattern, and the simple joy her designs have brought to millions. * The Lady *No one understands pattern and design quite like Emma. This gem of a book celebrates her passion for British ceramics, her beautiful design and joyful pattern. * Kirstie Allsopp *

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Book SynopsisThis lavish monograph retraces the 60-year career of one of the leading artists of contemporary painting.

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Book SynopsisOne of the leading lights of the Impressionist movement, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) remains a towering figure in art history with enduring public appeal. Sun-kissed, charming, and sensual, his work shows painting at its most lighthearted and luminous, while championing the plein air and color innovations of his time. Renoir’s oeuvre was prolific, with some several thousand works in his lifetime. Much influenced by forerunners such as Courbet, Degas, Manet, Delacroix, he worked with contemporary peers such as Monet to explore fresh uses of color and brushwork, rendering texture and depth with different-hued daubs. Drawn to intimate and tender human scenes, his subjects include lovers, mothers, and numerous nudes. As his career progressed, Renoir investigated different styles and techniques, shifting away from the feathery Impressionist touch to a more robust, classical corporeality, sometimes called his “Ingres period,” and later to monumental pieces such as The Bathers. From the abundant output of his lengthy career, this essential artist introduction selects key Renoir works to explore his innovations in the art of painting, as much as his traditions in pursuit of beauty, harmony, and the female form.

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Book SynopsisThe first NFT book that tells of the beginning of Crypto Art with 50 of the best artists in the movement. In the last year, crypto art has overwhelmed the world of digital art and beyond, involving collectors, museums, and auction houses, creating a fully-fledged digital revolution. It is guided by visionary artists who have promoted this unprecedented movement, with new rules, overwhelming dynamics, and innovative ways of using art. Crypto Art Begins, published by Rizzoli Italia and New York, is based on an idea and project by The NFT Magazine, the first monthly magazine to be read and collected on the blockchain Ethereum. The volume tells of this exciting movement through the history and works of 50 crypto artists including Hackatao, Refik Anadol, Kevin Abosch, Osinachi, Federico Clapis, Giant Swan, and DADA.Art who contributed to its creation and form a part of it with their NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing the present and future of this new world.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThere are few artists whose work has sustained its power to shock, amaze, and delight audiences for over 500 years, but anyone who views 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' will surely experience all three of those emotions at once. Although Hieronymus Bosch has a reputation as a brilliant madman, in his time, he was regarded as a master of art. His unique dreamlike style led him to be crowned the first surrealist, in a period where the artistic consensus was one of realism. Renowned occultist and bestselling author, Travis McHenry, has painstakingly isolated scenes and characters from Bosch's most famous paintings to create singular images that convey mystical meaning, while capturing the philosophical spirit of traditional Tarot cards. The result is a deck that is beautiful, inspirational, and unlike anything you've ever seen before. Sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting, but always captivating, The Hieronymus Bosch Tarot sets a new benchmark for Tarot card decks currently available.

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Book SynopsisFeatures the paintings and other artworks of an artist who is one of the most prolific and successful artists of the Golden Age Illustration, and captivated audiences throughout the first half of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisPublished in its entirety, Frida Kahlo's amazing illustrated journal documents the last ten years of her turbulent life.

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Book SynopsisJoan Eardley (1921-1963) is one of Scotland's most admired artists. During a career that lasted barely fifteen years, she concentrated on two very distinct themes: children in the Townhead area of central Glasgow, and the fishing village of Catterline, just south of Aberdeen, with its leaden skies and wild sea. The contrast between this urban and rural subject matter is self-evident, but the two are not, at heart, so very different. Townhead and Catterline were home to tight-knit communities, living under extreme pressure: Townhead suffered from overcrowding and poverty, and Catterline from depopulation brought about by the declining fishing industry. Eardley was inspired by the humanity she found in both places. These two intertwining strands are the focus of this book, which looks in detail at Eardley's working processes. Her method can be traced from rough sketches and photographs through to pastel drawings and large oil paintings. Identifying many of Eardley's subjects and drawing on unpublished letters, archival records and interviews, the authors provide a new and remarkably detailed account of Eardley's life and art.Table of ContentsDirectors' Foreword Introduction TOWNHEAD Townhead and Children Children and the Street CATTERLINE Early Paintings of Catterline The South Row of Cottages Around No. 1 Catterline Beach and Sea Boats on the Shore and the Sea View of the Bay Chronology Maps of Townhead and Catterline Concise Bibliography Notes and References Credits

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Book SynopsisSketching and drawing are fundamental to creating great art; the simple doodle is often where the artist first brings their ideas and concepts to life. In Sketching from the Imagination: Dark Arts, we have gathered together fifty talented traditional and digital artists to showcase work from their sketchbooks, share inspiration, and give insight into how they create imaginative and dark illustrations. Featuring a range of artwork and artists from many fields, from concept design and animation to illustration and comic art, Sketching from the Imagination: Dark Arts is a collection of beautifully macabre sketches with plenty of useful tips and creative insights—an invaluable resource that will inspire artists of all abilities.

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Book SynopsisSharp angles, strange forms, lurid colors, and distorted perspectives are classic hallmarks of Expressionism, the twentieth century movement that prioritized emotion over objective reality. Though particularly present in Germany and Austria, the movement’s approach flourished internationally and is today hailed as one of the most influential shifts in art history. With leading groups Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), and key players such as Wassily Kandinsky, Egon Schiele,and Emil Nolde, the Expressionists disowned Impressionism, which they regarded as “man lowered to the position of a gramophone record of the outer world”, to depict instead a raw and visceral experience of life as it was felt, rather than seen on the surface. Their paintings brim with emotive force, conveyed in particular through intense and non-naturalistic color palettes, loose brushwork, and thick textures. Covering the group’s stylistic tendencies, influences, and most important protagonists, this introductory book explores the Expressionist panorama of moods, ideas, and emotions and their abiding quest for deep authenticity.Trade Review“This comprehensive overview incorporates an impressive range of reproductions.” * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe Art Deco style is so recognisable and widespread that its original impact on the culture in which it emerged has been all but lost in the clutter of imitation. This book draws our attention back to the birth of Art Deco—a period between two devastating world wars when industrialisation was flourishing, interest in archaeology was peaking and movements such as Cubism, Constructivism, Futurism and Modernism were turning the art world on its head. Brilliantly designed to reflect the style it celebrates, Art Deco is filled with hundreds of examples of painting, architecture, interiors, jewelry, crafts, furniture and fashion. Author Norbert Wolf traces the chronology of the Art Deco style by looking at the politics and culture of Europe in the 1920s and early 30s and the artistic movements that paralleled its popularity. He follows Art Deco’s influence in Europe and its spread to the Americas and Asia. Most importantly, this wide-ranging volume looks beyond the era of Art Deco’s origination to the present day. Pointing to the numerous revivals and contemporary echoes in painting and even literature, this beautiful volume demonstrates the style’s lasting importance.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of art traditionally devalued as too domestic or feminine to be taken seriously and the innovative, brilliant artists reclaiming the idea of ‘women’s work’. Table of ContentsGee’s Bend Quilters Maria Martinez Elsa Schiaparelli Anni Albers Lucie Rie Lenore Tawney Dorothea Tanning Louise Bourgeois Rut Bryk Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian Miriam Schapiro Yayoi Kusama Faith Ringgold Magdalena Abakanowicz Olga de Amaral Sheila Hicks Eva Hesse Marva Lee Pitchford-Jolly Judy Chicago Judith Scott Annette Messager Isabelle de Borchgrave Dindga McCannon Cecilia Vicuña Mrinalini Mukherjee Polly Apfelbaum Sarah Lucas Yin Xiuzhen Simone Leigh Billie Zangewa Otobong Nkanga Alexandra Kehayoglou Sarah Zapata Tschabalala Self Hannah Hill More artists to explore Bibliography Index Picture credits Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisDelve into the stunning world of the award-winning action RPG NieR: Automata!

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Book SynopsisA landmark survey of one of architecture's most controversial yet popular style The Brutalist aesthetic is enjoying a renaissance - and this book documents Brutalism as never before. In the most wide-ranging investigation ever undertaken into one of architecture's most powerful movements, more than 850 Brutalist buildings - existing and demolished, classic and contemporary - are organized geographically into nine continental regions. Much-loved masterpieces in the UK and USA sit alongside lesser-known examples in Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond - 102 countries in all, proving that Brutalism was, and continues to be, a truly international architectural phenomenon. Includes twentieth-century masters such as Marcel Breuer, Lina Bo Bardi, Le Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa, Ernö Goldfinger, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, and Paul Rudolph. Contemporary architects featured include Alvaro Siza, Coop Himmelb(l)au, David Chipperfield, Herzog & de Meuron, Jean Nouvel, SANAA, OMA, Renzo Piano, Tadao Ando, and Zaha Hadid.Trade ReviewPraise for the previous editionNew York Times Best Art Book of 2018'Newcomers will discover the global influence of brutalism, that final age of civic architectural ambition; true believers can use it to prepare years of concrete–coated vacations.' – New York Times'Brutalism was mocked and misunderstood. But it produced some of the most sublime, awe–inspiring buildings on the planet.' – BBC TV'Brutalist architecture arouses passion and fury in equal measure.' – Financial Times'It is damned by its name which comes from the French, beton brut, or raw concrete, but we use the same word (Brut) to describe Champagne and this perhaps sums up the dichotomy at the heart of this style.' – Financial Times'A 560-page, oversized format book that deserves a place on every design and architecture nerd's coffee table.' – Acquire 'If you're down with concrete, check out Phaidon's latest book, Atlas of Brutalist Architecture . The stunning, 560–page coffee table tome shares more than 850 buildings, some which still exist and others that have been destroyed, that put the style on full display the world over.' – Bloomberg 'This is the only book to thoroughly document the world's finest examples of Brutalist architecture.' – Architectural Digest'A new encyclopedia of brutalist buildings makes the case that the movement is making a comeback.' – Curbed'Looks to the past, present and future of the style, revaluating the timeline and examining a deeper geopolitical context... Striking imagery and compelling text [reveal] a meaning far beyond the provocative aesthetics... Phaidon offers readers new perspectives on their everyday surroundings, encouraging individuals to re–evaluate the built environments.' – Aesthetica'Considered a beauty by some and a beast by others, brutalism is back... Love it or hate it, brutalism has been a defining part of our landscape... One generation's eyesore, though, is another's fancy, and now brutalism is experiencing a resurgence... Brutalism is back to the Future once again.' – Condé Nast Traveller 'From eyesore to Instagram aesthetic... A book that maps the stark style's presence around the world... The book [...] was a mammoth undertaking. McLeod, an architect by training and a self–confessed fan of the style says it took her about two years to research and finalise the list.' – The Hindu Weekend'Shines a light on this much–maligned architecture... An ambitious attempt to give brutalism a much wider scope and time frame, featuring almost 900 masterpieces from more than 100 countries.' – Daily Telegraph, Property'Phaidon announce their latest photo–book – a global survey of Brutalist architecture, based around 878 buildings from 798 architects, and ranging across 102 countries. In its thick, heavy, and appropriately dense weight, the Atlas not only covers the 'big names' of Brutalism, but also its lesser well–known members and more recent practices and places that have been inspired by it.' – Nowness'These buildings feature in Phaidon's book, Atlas of Brutalist Architecture, a monumental record of more than 850 Brutalist buildings found in over 100 countries.' – The Culture Trip

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Book SynopsisA sumptuous biography, history and gallery of the acclaimed 16th-century artist Hans Holbein the Younger, with 500 fine-art reproductions

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Book SynopsisThe artist Mark Hearld finds his inspiration in the flora and fauna of the British countryside: a blue-eyed jay perched on an oak branch; two hares enjoying the spoils of an allotment; a mute swan standing at the frozen water's edge; and a sleek red fox prowling the fields. Hearld admires such twentieth-century artists as Edward Bawden, John Piper, Eric Ravilious and Enid Marx, and, like them, he chooses to work in a range of media - paint, print, collage, textiles and ceramics. Work Book is the first collection of Hearld's beguiling art. The works are grouped into nature-related themes introduced by Hearld, who narrates the story behind some of his creations and discusses his influences. He explains his particular love of collage, which he favours for its graphic quality and potential for strong composition. Art historian Simon Martin contributes an essay on Hearld's place in the English popular-art tradition, and also meets Hearld in his museum-like home to explore the artist's passion for collecting objects, his working methods and his startling ability to view the wonders of the natural world as if through a child's eyes.Trade Review'Mr Hearld's talent is for locating wonder in the determinedly ordinary.' COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE; '... reveals the stories behind his career and his creations.' YORKSHIRE POST; ' ... takes us into Mark's home and explores his passion for collecting objects,' HOMES AND ANTIQUES; '... with inspiration drawn from Stubbs and Samuel Palmer, the poetry of Blake and William Morris's pattern design. The result is an identifiably 'English' idiom, here wonderfully brought to life in this handsome book' - COUNTRY LIFE; 'Anyone and everyone can love the art of Mark Hearld,' YORK PRESS; 'A fascinating book - beautifully bound and the quality of its pages speak of the riches to come - An amazing account of Mark's prolific and artistic outpourings.' FISHINK BLOG; 'Whether you are a fan of Hearld's work or discovering it for the first time, this book is a treat simply to flip through and will appeal to children and adults alike.' MONSTERS & CRITICS

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Book SynopsisThis magnificent guide presents a detailed introduction and commentary alongside the highest quality, detailed illustrations which celebrate the intricate, interlaced geometrical precision of one of the finest early medieval craftsmen.

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Book SynopsisThe core idea for this book is the use of operative verbs as tools for designing space. These operative verbs abstract the idea of spatial formation to its most basic terms, allowing for an objective approach to create the foundation for subjective spatial design. Examples of these verbs are expand, inflate, nest, wist, lift, embed, merge and many more. Together they form a visual dictionary decoding the syntax of spatial verbs. The verbs are illustrated with three-dimensional diagrams and pictures of designs which show the verbs ‘in action’. This approach was devised, tested, and applied to architectural studio instruction by Anthony Di Mari and Nora Yoo while teaching at Harvard University’s Career Discovery Program in Architecture in 2010. As instructors and as recent graduates, they saw a need for this kind of catalogue from both sides - as a reference manual applicable to design students in all stages of their studies, as well as a teaching tool for instructors to help students understand the strong spatial potential of abstract operations.

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