History of art Books

Book SynopsisA new and accessible way to understand art, looking at the love affairs that inspired our greatest masterpieces

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Book SynopsisIn So Much Longing in So Little Space, Karl Ove Knausgaard explores the life and work of Edvard Munch. Setting out to understand the enduring power of Munch’s painting, Knausgaard reflects on the essence of creativity, on choosing to be an artist, experiencing the world through art and its influence on his own writing. As co-curator of a major new exhibition of Munch's work in Oslo, Knausgaard visits the landscapes that inspired him, and speaks with contemporary artists, including Vanessa Baird and Anselm Kiefer. Bringing together art history, biography and memoir, and drawing on ideas of truth, originality and memory, So Much Longing in So Little Space is a brilliant and personal examination of the legacy of one of the world’s most iconic painters, and a meditation on art itself.Trade ReviewThis book gets to places that conventional art history has long been too sheepish to explore. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Norway doesn’t have a world-class philosopher (Kierkegaard was Danish). Karl Ove Knausgaard declared at the end of his previous book that he is no longer a writer, and it looks as though he’s moving in to fill that space... A philosophical meditation on the nature of art and the self. -- Sue Prideaux * Spectator *An intriguing analysis exploring the many layers of artistic creation... Intellectually rewarding, philosophically engaging, and written in a gripping narrative voice that is sincere, authoritative, and authentic, Knausgaard’s book subtly teaches the reader, in almost mystical and theological terms, about the positive spiritual value of art. -- JP O'Malley * Irish Times *So Much Longing in So Little Space – which has its roots in an exhibition that Knausgaard curated at Oslo’s Munch Museum in 2017 – succeeds on its own terms as a searching, shrewd and jargon-free interpretation of the artist’s art and life. Knausgaard writes clearly and candidly, as a fellow-pilgrim partnering the reader through Munch’s inner landscape rather than a preacher or teacher. Ingvild Burkey’s fine translation carries that unpretentious intimacy into English with total assurance. -- Boyd Tonkin * The Arts Desk *Although a fine primer on Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, this book is more about the experience of wandering into the world of art and being consumed by its confluence of history, narrative, and sublimity... Fans of the author's acclaimed autobiographical novels will find this book to be of Rosetta Stone-like importance as he delves into Munch's exploration of memory and how the artist rendered the past in a way that still feels both intimate and universally relatable . . . An immersive, impassioned history that illuminates both subject and author. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisA lively introduction to and history of international contemporary art from 1960 to the present. What does it mean? Is it really art? Why does it cost so much? While these questions are perpetually asked about contemporary art, they are not the questions that E. H. Gombrich set out to answer in his seminal book The Story of Art. Contemporary art is very different from what came before. From the 1960s, where Gombrich's account concludes, artists began to abandon traditional forms of art and started to make work that questioned art's very definition. This is where Godfrey picks up the story. Developments in contemporary art have followed no straightforward line of progress or sequence of movements. Recognizing this, Tony Godfrey creates a narrative from a series of often dramatic creative conflicts and arguments around what art is or should be. From object versus sculpture and painting versus conceptual to local versus global, gallery versus wider world, The Story of Contemporary Art traces a history in terms of drastic changes in social and political life over the last sixty years. How do we experience being human in a world that seems to change so quickly? In exploring art's relationship to this question, Godfrey asserts that multiple voices must be heard: critics, theorists, curators and collectors, but also audiences and artists themselves. Key to the book is the story of how a perception that art was made almost exclusively by white men from North America and Western Europe has been radically overturned. Compelling and intelligent, but never academic, this book tells us how.

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Book Synopsisâ??Many of the images are today iconic masterpieces. . . . One of the most influential art books of its time.â? â??The Big Issue In 1984 the groundbreaking Subway Art brought graffiti to the world, presenting stunning photographic documentation of the burgeoning movement in New York. Thirty years later, this bible of street art has been updated with over seventy photographs not included in the original edition and new insights on an incredibly rich period for urban art and its legacy. In new introductions, authors Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant recall how they gained entry into the New York City graffiti community in the 1970s and 1980s. New afterwords continue the story, tracing the decline of the subway and graffiti scene in the late 1980s to its unexpected rebirth as a global art movement. The authors reveal how the lives of the original subway artists have unfolded and mourn the loss of several to the darker forces of the street.Trade Review'The ultimate book for fans of graffiti … captures 1980s-cool' - City MagazineTable of Contents‘Why don’t you photograph graffiti?’ Martha Cooper • ‘If art like this is a crime, let God forgive me.’ Henry Chalfant • SUBWAY ART • ‘We may have lost the trains...’ Martha Cooper • ‘... but we’ve gained the whole world.’ Henry Chalfant

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Book SynopsisThe final edition of the late Tom Phillips's defining masterpiece of postmodernism'. In 1966 the artist Tom Phillips discovered A Human Document (1892), an obscure Victorian romance by W.H. Mallock, and set himself the task of altering every page, by painting, collage or cut-up techniques, to create an entirely new version. Some of Mallock's original text remains intact and through the illustrated pages the character of Bill Toge, Phillips's anti-hero, and his romantic plight emerges. First published in 1973, A Humument as Phillips titled his altered book quickly established itself as a cult classic. From that point, the artist worked towards a complete revision of his original, adding new pages in successive editions. That process is now finished. This final edition presents an entirely new and complete version of A Humument. It includes a revised Introduction by the late artist, in which he reflects on the 50-year project, and 92 new illustrated pages.Trade Review'Simply astounding ... and addictive' - Stephen Fry'One of the most original, fascinating and lovely books of all time' - Brian Eno'The closest thing a book has come to being an art object' - The New York Times'Sly, humorous, erotic and endlessly fascinating' - Edward Lucie-Smith, Sunday Times'A teeming world of humour, sex, sadness and art' - London Review of Books'Turns a forgotten work into a thing of rare beauty' - Bernard Levin, Sunday Times'Intricate, philosophical, romantic ... and often funny' - Michael Kustow, Guardian'One of the freshest and most original pieces of art literary work you are likely to see' - The Spectator

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Book SynopsisSunday Times Art Book of the Year 2018'If you are interested in modern British art, the book is unputdownable. If you are not, read it.' - Grey Gowrie, Financial Times 'All the good stories, and more, are here â this is a genuinely encyclopaedic work, unlike anything else I have come across on the topic, informed by a deep love and understanding of modern painting. Everybody interested in the subject should read it.' - Andrew Marr, Sunday Times A masterfully narrated account of painting in London from the Second World War to the 1970s, illustrated throughout with documentary photographs and works of art The development of painting in London from the Second World War to the 1970s is the story of interlinking friendships, shared experiences and artistic concerns among a number of acclaimed artists, including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach, David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Gillian Ayres, Frank Bowling and Howard Hodgkin. Drawing on extensive first-hand interviews, many prevTrade Review'All the good stories, and more, are here … a genuinely encyclopaedic work … Everybody interested in the subject should read it' - Andrew Marr, Sunday Times'Superb … you hang on to every word' - Rachel Cooke, Observer'A seminal work: limpidly written, replete with lightly worn scholarship and unrivalled intimate knowledge' - William Boyd, New Statesman'A masterpiece … a major work of art history' - Wall Street Journal'A wise and authoritative account of the post-war London art scene' - Artists & Illustrators'An anecdote-rich study of the geniuses and oddballs – Bacon, Freud, Hockney and more – who revived British art after the Second World War' - The Times'Superb, with vivid vignettes of the likes of Lucian Freud' - Daily Telegraph'At once scholarly and wonderfully gossipy' - ChoiceTable of Contents1. 14 Abercorn Place • 2. Pope Francis • 3. Euston Road in Camberwell • 4. The Spirit in the Mass (at Borough Polytechnic) • 5. Girl with Roses • 6. Leaping into the Void • 7. Translating Life into Art: Bacon and Freud in the 50s • 8. Two Climbers Roped Together: Auerbach and Kossoff • 9. An Arena in Which to Act • 10. What Makes the Modern Home so Different? • 11. The Situation in London, 1960 • 12. The Artist Thinks: Hockney and his Contemporaries

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Book SynopsisAn updated and expanded third edition of the definitive book on Grayson Perry, bringing the reader right up to date with the work of the Turner Prize-winning artist.Trade Review'Clear, generous and insightful … In unravelling the mystique behind Perry, Klein shows why this unlikely artist is, in fact, most likely a national treasure' - Financial Times'Lavish … Jacky Klein leads us into the warped world of this crossdressing potter with a keen intellect and a sharp social insight' - The Times'A gorgeously splashy volume, spliced with sharp, sober commentary, and invaluable words from Perry himself' - World of Interiors'Many if not all of the answers to the many, many questions Grayson’s spellbindingly unique work throws up' - Proper Magazine'A sumptuous publication that covers just about every aspect of Perry’s work ... There are as many top-quality illustrations as you could wish for and the generous page size means you can examine everything in detail … this gorgeous volume has taught me to appreciate him even more than I hoped it would' - Artbookreview'A sumptuous production which, if you’re not already a fan of Perry’s work, should help to convert you. There are plenty of generously-sized images, and it has been updated to include recent work such as 'A House for Essex' from 2015' - The Artist'Lavishly illustrated … a key to the artist’s imagination, and a first-hand insight into his creative process' - Contemporary Lynx MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction • Mapping the World of Grayson Perry • 1. Beginnings • 2. Pottery and Aesthetics • 3. Class • 4. War and Conflict • 5. Sex and Gender • 6. Religion and Folk Culture • 7. Inner Landscapes • 8. The Art World • 9. Pilgrimage • 10. A House for Essex • 11. Identifying Politics

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Book SynopsisRecognized as a major Pop artist in his day, Allan D’Arcangelo (1930–1998) has yet to receive the critical reevaluation of painters like Roy Lichtenstein and James Rosenquist. His first monograph in nearly a decade introduces new audiences to his iconic paintings, particularly his celebrated visions of life on the road.Like Pop peers Andy Warhol and Ed Ruscha, Allan D’Arcangelo incorporated mass-manufactured images in works that elevate scenes of everyday American life. While his work often features imagery from more familiar 1960s art—Jacqueline Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, smoking pin-up girls, Superman, Lucky Strike—it differs in the surreal elements he introduced to Pop tropes and romantic views of the American industrial landscape.D’Arcangelo once observed his “most profound experiences of landscape were looking through the windshield.” The artist brought a Pop sensibility to the tradition of landscape painting

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Book SynopsisThe thirty-six manuscripts included in this catalogue provide viewers unique access to the authentic, spontaneous vision of people in medieval France, Italy, Germany, the Low Counties, and Britain.

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Book SynopsisAt a time when tensions between Russia and “the West '' are increasing, this book is very timely, even though, its contents were first broadcast over fifty years ago. It offers a history of Russian culture and its particular trends and tendencies, which are shown to be frequently contradictory and even mutually exclusive. Schmemann argues for the supremacy of culture over political life in determining questions such as the apparent lack of political freedoms, law and order and civil rights in a Russian context.Table of ContentsForeword HTM Foreword by Maria Vasilyeva THE CULTURAL DEBATE IN THE USSR: A PROTEST THE DISPUTE OVER CULTURE IN THE SOVIET UNION “CULTURE” IN RUSSIAN SELF-IDENTITY PARADOXES OF RUSSIAN CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 4. MAXIMALISM MINIMALISM UTOPIANISM THE “EXPLOSION” OF RUSSIAN CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY Talk 1 Talk 2 Talk 3 RENUNCIATION OF CULTURE IN THE NAME OF PRAGMATISM RENUNCIATION OF CULTURE IN THE NAME OF RELIGION RENUNCIATION OF CULTURE IN THE NAME OF SOCIAL UTOPIA TOLSTOY AND CULTURE DOSTOEVSKY AND RUSSIAN CULTURE CULTURAL IDENTITY AT “THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY” Talk 1 Talk 2 ABANDONMENT OF THE MORAL FOUNDATIONS OF CULTURE THE INITIAL REACTION TO THE REVOLUTION THE ENSLAVEMENT OF CULTURE CREATIVE RESISTANCE Talk 1 Talk 2 Talk 3 THE PAST AND TRADITION THE WEST TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE SOCIAL TOPICS RELIGIOUS THEMES AT A CROSSROADS ON THE PATH TO SYNTHESIS Talk 1 Talk 2 CONCLUSION Notes Index of Names

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Book SynopsisThis magnificent boxed-set features stunning, accordion-fold, color reproductions of Van Gogh's essential works, accompanied by a separate booklet with background and descriptions of each painting Van Gogh's brilliant colors and expressive brush strokes come vibrantly to life in this sumptuous book that features approximately fifty of his most important works in generous accordion-fold pages. The large-format reproductions, printed on heavy stock, are presented chronologically, allowing for a close study of Van Gogh's development as an artist. In addition to his more well-known works, such as Irises, The Starry Night, Sunflowers, the Bedroom, Almond Blossom andWheatfield with Crows, readers will also discover how he experimented with landscape, still life and portraiture and how his influences changed over his brief but prolific career to embrace Impressionism, Neo-Classicism, and Pointillism, and incorporated elements of Symbolism as well as the techniques of Japanese woodcuts. An accompanying booklet features thumbnails of each painting along with captions that highlight key elements, as well as a brief appraisal of his life and work. Both volumes are encased in a sturdy slipcase. The set is a must-have for fans of Van Gogh and an excellent resource for understanding why he remains one of the world's most beloved painters.

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Book SynopsisThe idea of “renaissance,” or rebirth, arose in Italy as a way of reviving the art, science, and scholarship of the Classical era. It was also powered by a quest to document artistic “reality” according to newly discovered scientific and mathematical principles. By the late 15th century, Italy had become the recognised European leader in the fields of painting, architecture, and sculpture. But why was Florence the centre of this burgeoning creativity, and how did it spread to other Italian cities? Brimming with vivid reproductions of works by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, and others, this book showcases the creative achievements that traveled from Florence to Rome to Venice. Art historian Norbert Wolf explores the influence of secular and religious patronage on artistic development; how the urban structure and way of life allowed for such a rich exchange of ideas; and how ideas of humanism informed artists reaching toward the future while clinging to the ideals of the past. Insightful, accessible, and fascinating, this thoroughly researched book highlights the connections and mutual influences of Florence, Rome, and Venice as well as their intriguing rivalries and interdependencies.

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Book SynopsisThis first English book about Ho Kan, a pioneering Chinese artist who lived in Milan from 1964 to 2014, features exceptional artworks and groundbreaking research.Ho Kan’s pioneering work is a meeting of many worlds, bringing together ideas and inspiration that are as rooted in notions of East and West as they are in the past and present. Delicately balanced on the cusp of Western geometry, and on the lines, shapes, and forms of Chinese characters, this book traces the artist’s creative trajectory from his co-founding of the radical Ton Fan Group in Taipei to the dynamic cultural milieu of 1960s Milan, the city he lived in until 2014.Featuring some 200 exceptional illustrations of the artist’s life and work, comprehensive critical research, and personal interviews with Ho Kan, the essays in this book explore the artist’s interactions and experiences in Taipei and Milan alongside those of other Italian and international artists from that per

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

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Book SynopsisThe Cambridge Art Book contains a unique collection of contemporary images of this most beautiful city, from the grand architecture of its historic university to its more intimate corners. Cambridge is a unique place with a very special atmosphere. It combines an internationally-renowned university town with a vibrant street-life amongst stunning medieval architecture. This is an anthology of prints from 50 artists inspired by the beauty and vitality of the city, working in a broad range of contemporary media. In this book, you will find: - Quirky hidden gems such as the dog, officially labelled as a ‘cat’ to subvert college rules and reality checkpoint (the lamppost that marks the divide between the university and the real world) - Innovative representations of classic tourist sites: King’s College, St. John’s College, the Corpus Clock and the Backs (including Ely and Grantchester) - Cambridge’s train station and old Addenbrooke’s hospital transformed into artworks This book will renew memories and inspire visits and revisits to all its haunts.Trade ReviewJust gorgeous: I found it irresistible. -- Joanna LumleyHow necessary and wonderful to see ancient and beautiful Cambridge singing with new life, colour and vitality through the works of contemporary artists. A book to treasure. -- Stephen FryHow completely magnificent to see Cambridge through the eyes of 50 brilliant contemporary artists. Some of the pictures vividly remind me of my time there. Bikes and wind basically. This book looks utterly lovely. -- Claudia WinklemanCambridge is an inspiring city, rich in all kinds of beauty. It’s wonderful to see such a joyous celebration of the architecture, life and personality of this special place. -- Dame Fiona Reynolds, Master of Emmanuel College, CambridgeA stunning contemporary look at the city of Cambridge through the eyes of the artists who are inspired by its architecture, green spaces, people and sense of history. -- Sir David KingA brilliant new look at contemporary Cambridge. A wide selection of local artists have captured the energy, quirkiness and historic beauty of this wonderful city. -- Jackie Ashley, President of Lucy Cavendish CollegeTable of ContentsForeword Introduction King’s College and King’s Parade Around Cambridge The River Jesus Green to Parker’s Piece The Fitzwilliam Museum Mill Road Addenbrooke’s Cambridge University Botanic Gardens The station and out of Cambridge The Gog Magog Hills The Orchard at Grantchester Wicken Fen The Fens towards Ely Artists’ credits Artists

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Book SynopsisThe exhibition The Shakers: A World in the Making aims to both examine the lasting impact of the Shaker legacy as well as the more unexpected facets of their production, ideology and way of life from a contemporary perspective. The Shakers are by far the longest-lived American utopian experiment. Founded by Mother Ann Lee, who emigrated from Manchester, UK to New York in 1774, the Society governed eighteen separate communities from Kentucky to Maine in 1840, counting 4.000 to 6.000 members total. The Shakers' faith is based on the belief in the creation of paradise on earth through communal living, gender and racial equality, celibacy and pacifism. Shaker crafts, critical to supporting and fostering daily communal life, involved proto-industrial and small series manufacture of furniture and tools; fabrics and clothing; the invention of small machines and mechanical devices; as well as medication and seeds. With its radically utilitarian and restrained aesthetic Shaker design has gained a central place in the American and modern design canon and inspires generations of designers and architects up to the present day. The exhibition The Shakers: A World in the Making aims to both examine the lasting impact of the Shaker legacy as well as the more unexpected facets of their production, ideology and way of life from a contemporary perspective.

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Book SynopsisBotticelli is one of the most admired artists of the Renaissance period and his seductive Venus and graceful Primavera are among the world's most recognisable works of art. This catalogue raisonne of Botticelli's paintings offers more than two hundred full-colour illustrations and meticulous scholarship by the distinguished Renaissance art historian Frank Zollner , described by The Financial Times, when reviewing this book's previous edition, as "a fabulous, accessible scholar; his book has luscious reproductions and exquisite detail." Presented in chronological order, the facts of Botticelli's life and career are insightfully discussed against the background of the artistic upheaval that marked the Renaissance period. The artist's reinterpretations of ancient myths as well as his religious paintings are thoughtfully explored in this sumptuously illustrated volume, which will please scholars and delight lovers of fine art books everywhere.

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Book SynopsisA century after his death, Viennese artist Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) still startles with his unabashed eroticism, dazzling surfaces, and artistic experimentation. In this neat, dependable monograph, we gather all of Klimt's major works alongside authoritative art historical commentary and privileged archival material from Klimt's own archive to trace the evolution of his astonishing oeuvre.With top-quality illustration, including new photography of the celebrated Stoclet Frieze, the book follows Klimt through his prominent role in the Secessionist movement of 1897, his candid rendering of the female body, and his lustrous "golden phase" when gold leaf brought a shimmering tone and texture to such beloved works as The Kiss and Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, also known as The Woman in Gold.Trade Review"Guaranteed to work up a fervor."

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Book SynopsisThe book Art Forms in Nature is a collection of prints, made by the scientist Ernst Haeckel, of an enormous variety of flora and fauna from the sea-including microscopic Radiolaria, starfish and jelly fish-and since Prestel published it in 1998, it has been a favourite with artists, designers, illustrators and anyone who enjoys the wondrous forms of the natural world. Now paper engineer Maike Biederstaedt has transformed Haeckel's transcendent work into a three-dimensional book that allows readers to appreciate Haeckel's vivid colours, exceptional precision and fascination with patterns and geometry. This stunning book features seven pop-ups that allow readers to see nature's brilliance the way that Haeckel did-as marvellous, mathematically based creations that support his theory of the unity of all living things. Certain to appeal to his huge variety of fans, this pop-up version of a timeless classic will be treasured for years to come.

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Kells, dating from about 800 CE, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four Gospels. This official guide by the former Keeper of Manuscripts at the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, where the Book of Kells is on permanent display, provides fascinating insights into one of the greatest surviving examples of medieval art. The illustrations in this guide include striking reproductions of complete pages, and details that reveal the astounding intricacy and richness of the decoration. The Book of Kells is explored through its historical background; its structure; its decorative elements, including its use of symbols and themes; the scribes and artists who worked on the manuscript; and the tools and pigments used in its creation.Trade Review'Beautiful colour illustrations of both full pages and details' - Church Times'Provides insights into the Gospels not found anywhere else' - Methodist Enquirer'Enthralling … the range of vivid colours is almost as impressive as the striking use of gold in creating this sacramental trasure' - Antiques DiaryTable of ContentsHistorical Background • Early History of The Book of Kells • Later History of The Book of Kells • Navigation of The Book of Kells • Structure of The Book of Kells • Canon Tables • Virgin and Child • Hebrew Names • Breves Causae and Argumenta • Matthew’s Gospel • Mark’s Gospel • Luke’s Gospel • John’s Gospel • Decoration of The Book of Kells • Antecedents and Influences • Symbols and Themes • Scribes and Artists • Script, Pricking and Ruling, Correcting • The Scribes • The Artists • Materials and Pigments

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Book SynopsisCovering beginner draping to more advanced techniques, this new series of master classes from bestselling author Karolyn Kiisel provides a complete course. Projects include dresses, skirts, trousers and jackets, highlighting key fashion garments from the runway to the red carpet and iconic costumes from films such as Breakfast at Tiffany''s and In the Mood for Love.Starting with the basics of preparing the dress form and fabric, the book advances through pinning, trimming and clipping, and creating shape using darts and tucks, to adding volume using pleats and gathers, and handling complex curves. Advanced skills include how to use support elements such as shoulder pads, under layers and petticoats, and how to handle bias draping.Each exercise and project throughout the book is explained with step-by-step photographs and line drawings that bring to life the art of creating fashion in three dimensions.

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Book SynopsisPart of a series of handy, luxurious Flame Tree Pocket Books. Combining high-quality production with magnificent fine art, the covers are printed on foil in five colours, embossed then foil stamped. And they’re delightfully practical: a pocket at the back for receipts and scraps, two bookmarks and a solid magnetic side flap. These are perfect for personal use, handbags and make a dazzling gift. This example features the famous and well-loved The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. The Kiss is a prime example of Klimt's 'Golden Phase', in which he began to feature especially sumptuous ornamentation on a regular basis in his paintings. The couple in this artwork represent the mystical union of spiritual and erotic love, and the connection of life and the universe.

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Book SynopsisThe history of nude photography is the history of people’s fascination with the topic. Indeed, the photographic depiction of the human body is the only subject that has enthralled photographers, theoreticians, and consumers over such a long period—more than 150 years. No other motif is as prevalent as this one during all the phases of development comprising the history of photography, no other is present, whatever the technique, and is a subject of discussion within the context of nearly all aesthetic movements. Nor has any other pictorial topic produced such a variety of specialities as the nude: from the ethnological interpretation of the body to the glamour shot, from nudist photography to the pin-up of today. No other photographic field of application has inspired as much desire as it has awakened official wrath.1000 Nudes offers a cross section of the history of nude photography, ranging from the earliest nude daguerreotypes and ethnographic nude photographs to experimental nude photography. The period of time spanned by this work is from 1839 to roughly 1939, from the medium’s infancy to the end of the classic modernist period. Content-wise, the book pays tribute to the full range of pictorial approaches, from the manually elaborated artistic nudes of the turn of the century, enveloped in layers of theory, to the “obscene” postcard motifs which had not the slightest artistic pretension and were intended to exert a maximum effect on the buyer’s wallet. All the pictures shown are taken from the late Uwe Scheid’s collection, one of the world’s largest and most important collections of erotic photography.Trade Review“Fascinating for what it tells us about the history of body images and social codes.” * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Man Booker Prize Headlong begins when Martin Clay, a young would-be art historian, believes he has discovered a missing masterpiece. The owner of the painting is oblivious to its potential and asks Martin to help him sell it, leaving Martin with the chance of a lifetime: if he could only separate the painter from its owner, he would be able to perform a great public service, to make his professional reputation, perhaps even rather a lot of money as well. But is the painting really what Martin believes it to be? As Martin is drawn further into this moral and intellectual labyrinth, events start to spiral out of control . . . Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, Whitbread Novel Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, Headlong is an ingeniously comic thriller that follows a young philosophy lectuerer''s obsessive race through the art world in search of an elusive masterpiece. Michael Frayn''s other novel

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Book Review Editors? Choice The untold story of the artistic battle between James Abbot MacNeill Whistler and John Ruskin over Whistler?s controversial, ground-breaking Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket.In November 1878, America?s greatest painter sued England?s greatest critic for a bad review. The painter won?but ruined himself in the process. The painter: James Abbot MacNeill Whistler, whose combination of incredible talent, unflagging energy, and relentless self-promotion had by that time brought him to the very edge of artistic preeminence. The critic: John Ruskin, Slade Professor of Art at Oxford University, whose four-decades? worth of prolific and highly respected literary output on aesthetics had made him England?s unchallenged and seemingly unchallengeable arbiter of art. Though Whistler and Ruskin both lived in London and moved in the same artistic world, they had, until June, 1877, managed to remain entirely clear of one another. This was unusual because Whistler had a mercurial temperament, a belligerent personality, and seemed to thrive on opposition: he once challenged a man to a duel because the man accused the painter of sleeping with his wife. (Whistler had, in fact, slept with the man?s wife.) That November, John Ruskin walked into the Grosvenor Gallery?s new exhibition of art and gazed with horror upon Whistler?s Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket. The painting was Whistler?s interpretation of a fireworks display at a local pleasure garden. But to Ruskin it was nothing more than a chaotic, incomprehensible mess of bright spots upon dark masses: not art but its antithesis?a disturbing and disgusting assault upon everything he had ever written or taught on the subject. He quickly channeled that anger into a seething review. The internationally-reported, widely discussed, and hugely-entertaining trial that followed was a titanic battle between the opposing ideas and ideals of two larger-than-life personalities. For these two protagonists, Whistler v Ruskin was the battle of a lifetime?or more accurately, a battle of their two lifetimes. Paul Thomas Murphy?s Falling Rocket also recounts James Whistler?s turbulent but triumphant development from artistic oblivion in the 1880s to artistic deification in the 1890s, and also Ruskin?s isolated, befogged, silent final years after his public humiliation. The story of Whistler v Ruskin has a dramatic arc of its own, but this riveting new book also vividly evokes an artistic world in energetic motion, culturally and socially, in the last decades of the nineteenth century.

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Book SynopsisIn May 1949, the Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912-2004) visited the Grindelwald Glacier in Switzerland. It was a trip which would have a profound and lasting impact on her work. Charting the journey, the beautiful work it stimulated and wider questions around glacial landscapes, then and now, this publication provides insights that will expand our understanding of both an acclaimed body of work and the artist who created it. That Barns-Graham produced her final glacier painting in 1994, some 45 years after her sole visit to Switzerland, is testament to the influence that the experience had on her. So too are her 100 or so individual glacier works - made first between 1949 and 1952 and then in revisiting the subject between 1976 and 1994. Including a complete catalogue of the glacier paintings, this book presents the definitive account of a trip that would transform the artistic imagination of one of the foremost British painters of the twentieth century.

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Book Synopsis ''A terrific read, bubbling with anecdotes and insight'' Daily Mail, 2021''s best biographies''Bayley, the author of books on style, design and taste, tells the Habitat story with his customary polycultural panache . . . [Mavity is] good at conveying the experience of being in a room with Conran'' Sunday TimesTerence Conran, a visionary and a myopic. A design entrepreneur and imaginative restaurateur, he was a democratising idealist who was also a selfish hedonist. His influence is everywhere in modern Britain from where we live to what we eat. Terence: The Man Who Invented Design is the most definitive, intimate and revelatory biography of this design legend, by two of his closest collaborators, Roger Mavity and Stephen Bayley. Frank, amusing, indiscreet, sharp, rude, respectful and knowing, it tells Terence''s story as it evolved, from before Habitat''s humble chicken brick to Bibendum''s sophisticated poulet de BresseTrade ReviewBayley, the author of books on style, design and taste, tells the Habitat story with his customary polycultural panache . . . [Mavity is] good at conveying the experience of being in a room with Conran -- John Walsh * Sunday Times *Juicy . . . interesting * Evening Standard *A close reading of one of the most influential men in design history by two of his closest allies and collaborators, Stephen Bayley and Roger Mavity. There is a brutal honesty about the way in which they have painted their late colleague and friend . . . * Independent *Compelling . . . gossipy and entertaining * Irish Independent *[A] fascinating personality, captured here - both affectionately and critically . . . A terrific read, bubbling with anecdotes and insight * Daily Mail *Irresistibly spiky . . . fun . . . rollicking * Spectator *A must-read * The Tablet *The contradictions in Terence Conran's character shine through in this profile by a former protege whose book is a mixture of scoresettling and affection * Observer *

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Book SynopsisAfrican-American art has made an increasingly vital contribution to the art of the United States from the time of its origins in early-eighteenth-century slave communities. This major reassessment of the subject discusses folk and decorative arts such as ceramics, furniture, and quilts alongside fine art sculptures, paintings, and photography produced by African Americans, both enslaved and free, throughout the nineteenth century. It explores art and politics,the influence of galleries and museums, and examines the New Negro Movement of the 1920s, the Era of Civil Rights and Black Nationalism through the 1960s and 1970s, and the emergence of new black artists and theorists in the 1980s and 1990s. African-American Art shows that in its cultural diversityand synthesis of cultures it mirrors those in American society as a whole. `a much needed text. . . breaks down the barrier between folk and formal art, and articulates an interrelationship of both concepts to African-American people aTrade ReviewSharon Patton has written a much needed text which surveys the broad scope of the history of African-American art from slavery to the present. She has followed a different tack, tracing art themes and their development throughout the history, rather than the influences of specific artists or periods. Thus, she shows how ideas such as crafts, formal painting and sculpture, or architecture, co-existed with equal importance to the culture from the times of the Colonies. In so doing, she breaks down the barrier between folk and formal art, and articulates an interrelationship of both concepts to African-American people and their culture. Her book expands the framework for the visual arts in the United States in the last two centuries. * Professor Keith Morrison, Dean, College of Creative Arts, San Francisco State University *Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1: COLONIAL AMERICA AND THE YOUNG REPUBLIC 1700-1820; CHAPTER 2: NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA, THE CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION; CHAPTER 3: TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICA AND MODERN ART 1900-60; CHAPTER 4: TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICA: THE EVOLUTION OF A BLACK AESTHETIC

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Book SynopsisFor over a hundred years 'the avant-garde' has been the most influential concept in modern art; its impact on the history of modern culture has been profound. In this Very Short Introduction, David Cottington explores why the avant-garde carries so much authority, and places it within the context of western modernity and capitalist culture.Trade ReviewCottington's book is both a brisk history of the idea of the avant-garde and a precise set of arguments about what constitutes avant-garde ... To navigate the waters ahead we will require cultural historians like Cottington more than Amazon reviews, Facebook likes and fleeting tweets. * The Scotsman *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Origins: emergence and consolidation 1820-1914 ; 2. Professionalisms and Politics Between the Wars ; 3. Consumerism and co-option ; 4. The Avant Garde and Revolution ; Conclusion ; Further reading

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Book Synopsis''As fresh, poignant and individual as his paintings'' Lucy Beckett, TLS, Books of the Year 2018''Here is my soul. Look for me here; here I am, here are my pictures, my roots''Marc Chagall, one of the twentieth century''s most popular artists, grew up in a close-knit, bustling Russian-Jewish community, the son of a herring seller. In his colourful, dreamlike autobiography, written as he was about to leave his homeland for good in 1922, he vividly brings to life the memories and places that fed into his unique work, from his shtetl childhood to revolutionary Russia and Belle Èpoque Paris. Filled with Chagall''s own evocative illustrations, My Life is as warm, joyful and humane as his art. ''Chagall writes as whimsically as he paints: lovingly ofother people, humorously and lovingly of himself'' Daily Mail''Anyone who likes Chagall''s paintings will enjoy this book:the work of an unteachable, unspoiled folk artist'' Evenin

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Book SynopsisSteve Parker is a garden historian lecturing at Cardiff. A keen enthusiast of the modern house and garden, his passion extends throughout all of garden history, understanding the context and impact gardens, plants, design and people have had on our cultural history. He's worked for Cardiff University for the past 11 years and visits more than 100 gardens a year.Trade ReviewThe author's admirable prose style leads us on an endless series of enjoyable excursions, many of which illustrate the simple truth that the evolution of gardens reflects that of wider society * Country Life *Profiling some of England's most celebrated gardens, both old and new, this erudite, well-illustrated book also considers how future gardens might look. A thought-provoking look at how our identity has shaped our landscape. * Daily Mail *A lavishly illustrated overview of English garden history, which brings a fresh style and offers a contemporary update. * Gardens Illustrated *This is a beautiful but serious book about English garden history * Cotswold Life *

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Book SynopsisThe man behind the paintings: the extraordinary life of J. M. W Turner, one of Britain''s most admired, misunderstood and celebrated artistsJ. M. W. Turner is Britain''s most famous landscape painter. Yet beyond his artistic achievements, little is known of the man himself and the events of his life: the tragic committal of his mother to a lunatic asylum, the personal sacrifices he made to effect his stratospheric rise, and the bizarre double life he chose to lead in the last years of his life.A near mythical figure in his own lifetime, Franny Moyle tells the story of the man who was considered visionary at best and ludicrous at worst. A resolute adventurer, he found new ways of revealing Britain to the British, astounding his audience with his invention and intelligence. Set against the backdrop of the finest homes in Britain, the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, this is an astonishing portrait of one of the most important figures in Western art and a vivid evocation of Britain and Europe in flux.Trade ReviewMoyle's superb biography rigorously tackles the myths surrounding Turner's life and presents a vivid portrait of a man whose ideas and behaviour were rooted in the 18th century - and whose work is too often taken out of context * Mail on Sunday *An exemplary work... Moyle explores the whole of his long life, expertly charting the artist's development from his precocious conquering of the Royal Academy to his late, experimental paintings.Moyle is especially good at delineating Turner's artistic methods and her enthralling account is filled with an impressive understanding of his unique talent. -- Ian Critchley * Sunday Times *A thorough, balanced and wonderfully fluent account. Franny Moyle [is] one of the best in the long line of [Turner's] biographersOne of Turner's many achievements was to paint Britain in all its moods ... and show his peers the real nature and variety of their own country. In her immaculate biography Moyle has done something similar with the man himself. -- Michael Prodger * Times *Fresh and lively ... Turner's life is given a vivid colour and depth as Moyle deftly interweaves his professional career with his private life. Moyle writes with sensitivity about individual pictures and series, and is good at explaining the context -- Jenny Uglow * BBC History Magazine *Elegant and thorough.Moyle's superb evocation of these aspects of her subject allows us to see Turner less as the "misunderstood genius" who moved in a sphere untouched by the realities of the day, and "more as an arch manipulator and central player in the great game of art that evolved across the late 18th and 19th centuries, a man praised to the hilt by a great many of his contemporaries [who] acknowledged his significance in the creation of the idea of the independent artist".It is to Moyle's credit that she is able to make this persuasive case while narrating Turner's life with verve, intelligence and insight, and while bringing to life the world in which he lived with care and subtlety. This is a biography that leaves you with a fresh impression of both Turner and his time. It frees its subjects from myth, and imbues them with the quality of wonder. -- Matthew Adams * I News *Moyle is good on Turner's momentous times, interweaving history, the history of art and the public's attitude toward art. -- Claudia Fitzherbert * Telegraph *It is hard, on one level, to believe his sublime canvases ... come with a character attached at all. But Moyle tells the human story well in a book of rigorous scholarship and beauty.She offers an earthy, warts-and-all depiction of the Romantic master JMW Turner that is shaped by the dogged realism of a low-born man who had an exceptional artistic vision.This is well written and meticulously researched.All we once had left of Turner were his paintings, now we have another vibrant biography to commemorate his art, and where it took us. -- Lorraine Courtenay * Irish Independent *Franny Moyle tells a compelling story of a self-taught prodigy... A restless painter who always sought new forms of expression in watercolour and oils.Moyle is an unpretentious art historian, and she has written an inviting and easily digested biography of the best of British painters -- Stephen Fay * Economist *Of the two recent books on Turner, Moyle's is the more satisfying, not least because it allows for the intimacy of reading. Less is more when it comes to biography - and Moyle gives Turner's restless life a perspective and a frame -- Frances Wilson * New Statesman *Very well researched . . . Moyle achieves an unusual level of empathy * Time Out (on 'Desperate Romantics') *Moyle's art-historical perceptions make this detailed and beautifully balanced biography a compelling read... Turner emerges from it larger... revealed as a man of his moment -- Brian Morton * Scottish Herald *The words on the page offer views every bit as captivating as Turner's ageless panoramas * Big Issue *A fat, satisfying popular history of the man who was arguably Britain's greatest painter * Financial Review *Miss Moyle tells a very good story. She is sound on the art without allowing art historicism toweigh her down. She is also excellent on the complicated politics of the Royal Academy. We get a feel for the man in all his cantankerousness and eccentricity, but she also brings out the humour and -at least after he had made his own fortune-the generosity, especially towards his fellow artists -- Huon Mallalieu * Country Life *Moyle is consistently perceptive about Turner's work, especially the way in which he sought to portray both what he could see in front of him and what he couldn't see - things like air and space. Her narrative is as colourful as it is pacy. -- John Preston * Daily Mail *What Ruskin misses, but Moyle writes about so persuasively, is Turner's ambition -- Laura Freeman * Mail on Sunday *Moyle is excellent at establishing these stylistic contexts. ... her art-historical perceptions are what make this detailed and beautifully balanced biography so compelling a read. It's rare that one finishes a modern biography feeling that the subject has been enhanced and not merely dissected. McKern and Spall can step aside. The real Turner is onstage * Herald *

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