Book Description

Picasso was an extremely prolific artist, and there remain many little-known, rarely seen works that have been held in private collections. In the fall of 2001, Milan's Palazzo Reale presents an exhibition of many of these works, which are also featured in this spectacular oversized art book. It is alive with splashes of brilliant color and is a distinguished addition to any art bookshelf, featuring 300 illustrations that cover oil paintings, aquatints, prints, sculpture, and terracottas, as well as textiles such as the Ballet Russe costumes Picasso created for Diaghilev. ... Read more

Book Description

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) was at the very center of the Impressionist movement. Although his paintings seem to typify the impressionist style, the variety of media in which he worked and his working practices, which involved careful studio preparation as well as plein air painting, lead us to redefine our concept of Impressionism. ... Read more

Book Description

During a career that spanned more than fifty years, two continents, and work in many media, Man Ray (1890-1976) produced a large body of photographic images that continue to command our attention. This volume presents his early work in New York in the 1910s, selections from his sizeable Paris oeuvre in the 20s, 30s, and 50s, and photographs taken during his time in Hollywood in the 40s. Though in later years he expressed a desire to be remembered as a painter, Man Ray continued to work with photography throughout his life, pushing the boundaries of the medium with cameraless images, solarized portraits, and other innovations.

The Getty Museum's collection of three hundred works by Man Ray includes vintage prints from the the 1910s through the 1960s. This volume presents more than fifty photographs, with commentary on each image by Katherine Ware, assistant curator of photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum. The volume also includes an overview of his life and the edited transcript of a symposium on his career. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Wonderful, though more text than I wanted
I was very pleased by the large number of high-quality reproductions. Still, as far as I'm concerned there should have been *more*. The book contains (a rough count) about 280 pages containing text or mostly text, out of about 630 total pages. However, I'm very happy with the book.

Best Rauschenberg book ever!
Best book, I have ever bought

Excellent well presented book
The problem with art books is that they go out of print too quickly. This is a beautifully presented book on Rauschenberg that was released with the big retrospective at the Guggenheim in 97/98. Barnes and Noble still had copies avaiable as of Sept. 99, so check there -- they were even discounted!

This is a very comprehensive overview of Rauschenberg's work
For the fan and the collector, this book is an excellent reference guide that offers extensive illustrations of the works themselves, as well as documentary photos of the artist at work and play. A chronology, exhibition and performance histories are also included. I was also very interested in the information regarding Rauschenberg's work processes and collaborations with other artists. This is a fine addition to any art library.

This book was offered in paperback during a recent exhibition at the San Francisco MOMA, so if you can find the hard cover you should buy it.

Rauschenberg, the book
The book is beautiful, if very heavy. The fault lies not with the catalog but with the show itself. THERE'S TOO MUCH STUFF and not all of it is worth looking at. The book will prove to be an invaluable companion to the catalog from the National Gallery of Art's 1976 retrospective. But it (and the show) sure could have used some editing. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Depends what you're after
I personally think, that these volumes would normally appeal to an art or university library, but the average art lover could find them a tad disappointing for the price. Both volumes are huge - measuring about 12cm wide together on the bookcase; but the text volume is only text and the prints are mostly black and white.
I wouldn't attempt to knock these guys for inaccuracy. They seem to have taken a thorough and methodical approach to the whole subject with the details of each portrait carefully listed and catalogued. However, I do think it's a shame that they didn't go the extra mile and ensure that more of the reproductions were in colour. Reynolds was a superb portrait artist and I don't feel that this catalogue comes even close to really showcaseing his work.
Regarding the colour plates; in the prints volume there are 132 in colour, but a fairly random selection that I think misses a lot of his best portrait work. The rest of the prints are in black and white and listed four to a page. I was also a bit disappointed with the quality of the photography, as I've seen better prints of most of the paintings that I recognised in other publications.
So five stars for the scholarship and research - but in my opinion, for the price, only get it if you really, really love Reynolds. ... Read more

Book Description

Nicolas Poussin was one of the seventeenth century's greatestartists. This superbly illustrated book offers new ways of interpretingthe work and ideas of this brilliant and complex figure. ... Read more

Book Description

A simple mission lies at the heart of Rubens: to give the most complete picture of the great Flemish master as possible. No fewer than 163 paintings, sketches, and drawings by the artist, plus nine tapestries, are put to this worthy task. A faithful, objective understanding of Rubens arises, from his beginnings under the influence of his master Otto Venius and Italian art, right through to the end of his career, when he basked in a major Spanish commission. Rubens is at home in all genres, and all are represented here: from landscapes to portraits, from altarpieces to genre scenes, and historical paintings too, of course. Even the talents of the decorator are revealed in his painted sketches, drawings, and tapestries.

For this publication, the master's oeuvre is divided into five groupings: Rubens’ Beginnings, Rubens and Italy, The Middle-Class Patron, Official Commissions, and Secular Subject Matter. Through the inclusion of tapestries, particular attention is paid to the genesis of his art. Works such as Descent from the Cross, Laying in the Sepulchre, The Stoning of Saint Stephen, and three altarpieces created for the city of Lille's churches and convents are included. From this impressive homage to Rubens, the general reader, connoisseur, and historian will all hopefully come to know Rubens better, and also be stimulated by the juxtaposition of works never presented in this way before.

Published on the occasion of Rubens, an exhibition at the Palais des Beaux Arts in Lille, France. Glory to the Homer of painting.--Eugène Delacroix Essays by Arnauld Brejon de Lavergnée, Barbara Brejon de Lavergnée, Hans Vlieghe, Hans Devisscher, Alexis Donetzkoff, Jacques Foucart, Barbara Gaehtgens, Natalia Gritsaï, Alexis Merle du Bourg and Jean Vittet. Hardcover, 8.25 x 11 in. / 320 pgs / 180 color and 110 b&w. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Incredible if you want to see the master works!
A definite must if you want to be inspired ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautiful image filled collection of Rodin's creations.
This book contains many wonderful pieces, as well as providing details of Rodin's life during the time he created these enchanting works. I love to turn each page, because his collection always remain fresh and exciting...Jasmine ... Read more

Reviews (11)

If you have interest in Picasso's techniques read this book
Gilot's representation of her time with Picasso is obviously the product of in depth journals. The potrayal of his monologues and mannerisms are detailed to a very fine degree. Overlooked, by the majority of reviewers of this work, is her painstaking detail into his artistic process. The level of detail she provides regarding the techniques Picasso used eclipses any other Picasso biography. Gilot documented his work with oils, sculpture, etching and many other mediums. Always the focus of reviews are Picasso as the great abuser, the great manipulator. Focus always seems to placed on the physcological aspects of his art, his life and their relationship. Seldom is the emphasis placed on the technical nature of this work. It is a large portion on this book. It is what really makes it worth the read...

Bloodless Passion
I have just finished John Richardson's Picasso biography Vols. I & II. Perhaps it is unfair to compare the two views of Picasso. Nevertheless I found the Gilot book lacking in any profound insight. She is philosophical about her reasons for taking up with Picasso and appears almost mercenary in her motives, i.e. the relationship will improve her understanding of Picasso and his art. She manages to maintain that philosophical if almost removed viewpoint throughout. If what is written (who knows what axes have to be ground) is true then she seems a great deal less unhinged than Dora Maar, Olga Kokhlova or even perhaps Marie-Therese Walter. At least that is the picture Gilot paints. The former two especially are depicted as haradans lurking in wait for Gilot to both physically and mentally assail her. It is sadly typical of Picasso to allow these nasty encounters to continue to his advantage. Given Gilot's disinterested depiction of events which both redound to her credit as well leave the reader agog at her own credulity of Picasso's motives and personality I found the book interesting as a look inside a fascinating era but nevertheless was left quite unmoved as to her own fate. I can only conclude this must have been her original intention as the book was co-written by her.

I am looking forward to Richardson's vols. III and IV of Picasso and am interested in his view of their (Gilot/ Picasso) relationship. Undeniably a completely absorbing character despite the ugliness.

A Life of Devastation
Picasso has always fascinated me. I've always been curious about knowing what and who was behind those piercing black eyes that could freeze you in your own tracks; that man who thought women came only in two forms: either goddesses or doormats. Gilot's book of milestones succeeded at imparting some of his secrets - how she met him, loved him, and eventually was consumed by his larger-than-life and boisterous temperament; how he treated "his" women, his children, and friends; how he thought of and expressed his take on life; how he hated the words "like" and "appreciate" and preferred to either love or hate; how his whole existence fed and was borne on his art. Picasso, the labyrinth, and as throroughly drawn by Gilot, was a man who flirted with life by his own very terms and a take-it-or-leave-it attitude that ridiculed the very essence of it. A far cry from mild and an artist who flew in the face of the common, he never hoped to do; he did. He never waited to be given; he took. He was the god of his own self, and by the same token acted as if he had been the god of all. Gilot knew how to play his game, at least sometimes, but could never bring him closer to "normalcy." His genius overwhelmed his surroundings just as much as it had overwhelmed Picasso himself.

The book is very well-written. Incidents and moments do not follow a chronological sequence; rather, they are told as she remembers them. She interjects her memories with her own impressions and epiphanies; how she felt at the time is juxtaposed with how she felt as she was writing the book, which was first published in 1964. Apollinaire, Gertrude Stein, Matisse, Braque, Cocteau, Max Jacob, Eluard, Miro, Modigliani, Goya, Giacometti, and many other lofty figures whose lives were intimately intertwined with Picasso's are narrated in an accentuated mood of writing. It's a very interesting book if one was interested in that Golden Age of aesthetic and thought schools like the Blue Period, Cubism, Socialist Realism, and how Picasso had lived through it all. It points out his most absorbing canvasses and expressively conveys how, when, and where each had been conceived and later fathered by him. I personally don't believe in formalism or the notion that art is self-contained or self-referential; there is a whole life out there, or rather "in" there, that crystallizes its point of departure thereby meditating its own maker.

I loved this book not only for its author's elegance and depth, but also because of the breadth of her enfolded experiences, her bare feelings, and the intricacy of that snow-in-summer intimacy she had with that ferocious and insatiable matador of a human nature called Picasso. A monster, yes. And a genius who believed in passion as the only rule worth living by, and for.

Interesting book, hard to put down once you get into it.
Not being very well educated in art, the book helped me better understand some of what Picasso was trying to portray in his artwork. It is an easy book to get through once you get into it, the way it is written it can be long and tedious at times but the information Francoise Gilot gives is quite sincere and in depth. The book will give you a better incite to Picasso's twisted and passionate life, leaving you with a newfound knowledge and idea about Picasso.

Great perspective, from a person who knew first hand.
The best book on Picasso I have read. Francoise Gilot, wife to Picasso and a painter, writes possibly with better insight than Picasso himself could, and certainly any other "outside of the circle" biographer could, about Picasso's manner of painting, his personality and lifestyle, his motivations and a good part of his life. Excellent, excellent book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A superbly presented and informative art history.
Many books have profiled Parrish's art; Maxfield Parrish and the Illustrators of the Golden Age reproduces 70 works of Parrish and other illustrators of his times, using the archives of the Americana Illustrators Gallery and other resources to present works by a range of painters. Chapters provide plenty of text history of the works of these illustrators and their related styles. Highly recommended, this goes beyond most singular Parrish focuses.

A clear window on the golden age of magazine illustration
In concise but informative prose, Margaret Wagner illuminatesnot just the work of the timelessly popular Maxfield Parrish, but sheplaces him firmly within the context of his time. Ms. Wagner accomplishes this by introducing readers to some of Parrish's lesser known contemporaries (though the book has a rich selection of his work too) and by not falling prey to histrionically trumpeting his "greatness." Parrish's fans might even learn something from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Norman Rockwell once noted that he depicted life "as I would like it to be."This newly revised version of The Best of Norman Rockwell features an additional 16 pages showcasing his keen observations and warm artistic vision, with updated images and text personally selected by Rockwell's son, Tom.Organized by decade, it provides a fascinating look at the accomplishments of this extraordinary American illustrator. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent prints from breathtaking images.
This is my first Norman Rockwell artbook, and wow... after years of his inspiration I have to say this book gives one of the best Rockwell prints you can get out there.
The pages are printed on excellent glossy photo paper, and the images are all vibrating. Some paintings are revised in photography, so you don't get the same old yellowish rusty image from the 1970s reference.
If you simply is a Norman Rockwell fan or know someone who is a painter... I would say this book is the best there is. it contains a section of sketches - portraits, painting sketch, brainstorm ideas...etc. And the chapters are separated according to his years of career, from the early 1920s to the late 1960s...

The Best of Norman Rockwell. A Celebration of 100 Years
I had hankered after a good book on Norman Rockwell for years. I think out of all the books available on the artist Norman Rockwell this has to be one of the very best. While other books have gone for quantity rather than quality, using plenty of black and white pictures to fill them out, this one has quality and colour with many of MY favourite pictures whilst also showing plenty of black and white preliminary sketches. It is wonderful. And the speedy delivery from Amazon has fulfilled a big gap in my "library".

Like a Portrait of Norman Rockwell....
The first time I heard about Rockwell was from a French Popular Song. Since then, I was dying to discover his world and I found this book. It was a lovely one just made for me. If I have to criticize the book, well, I would say it lacked a little bit of <> of themes presented, and hoped there were more of his works.. Anyway, I would say it was terribly interesting.

I have a comment for this book
I think this a real good book because of how it tell's you how Norman Rockwell was and also picture's.I believe any body would love this book to see how time's have changed.I give this book my highest reconmondation. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Great Collection This is Not
This book is not one of the best among those in the Dover Art Library. A handful (about a half-dozen) of pictures are good with sufficient details and/or a tight organization to be appreciated. Most are so-so. Some are definitely fillers. It does not help that Rubens himself, according to the Publisher's Note, did not think highly of his own drawings and did not even sign a single one of them. All told, this selection is not impressive.

Rubens's paintings, rather than his drawings, should rightly be his legacy.

excellent
This is an excellent book on the drawings of Rubens. The works are very diverse and a whole range of different media are used. This is a great book to study for an art student. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Picasso in sunlight
This book superbly portrays Picasso as a man: his joie de vivre his love of women, his love of life, his guttural grasping at the meaning of life, love and beauty in its modern, cruel guise. Throughout the author refers toto real people: people who exist - people like you, and people like me:people who go down to the mall, people who eat ham and cheese baguettes,people who delve into the deeper things.... the ntherworld of life: love:the internet: humour; bullfighting, his mother his love , his daughter. ... Read more

Book Description

Although overlooked for centuries, Piero della Francesca is now regarded as the supreme early Renaissance artist. Discover his unprecedented use of landscape and his naturalistic portraiture. The DK ArtBook series presents both the life and works of each artist within the cultural, social, and political context of their time. To make the books easy to consult, they are divided into three areas -- the life and works of the artist, historical and cultural background, and analysis of major works -- which are identifiable by side bands. Each spread focuses on a specific theme, with an introductory text and several annotated illustrations. Few art history texts contain such abundance of full-color illustrations. The index section is also illustrated and gives background information on key figures and the location of the artist's works. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A lavish treatment of a fascinating painter
Piero's ouevre has never seen such handsome representation in book form. Razor-sharp, large-format illustrations, including details printed at full-bleed on forearm-wide pages, permit intimate inspection of works which even in person can sometimes only be viewed distantly in dim church-light.

Quibbles include some tenuous conjectures about the development of the artist's thinking (which, if the author is taken at face value, includes the Zohar). It's too bad that more progress hadn't been made on the newly-restored Arezzo frescoes at the time of publication. But these aside, this is as definitive and gorgeous of a presentation of Piero as one could fairly ask for. Simply a beautiful book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No artist has come up with anything to match History of Everything, Sigmar Polke's profound response to the age of Osama bin Laden, and this book does a flawless job of illuminating his headspinningly bold associative leaps. Solid reproductions and remarkably lucid essays by art star Dave Hickey and cocurator Chalres Wylie guide us through what obviously was a knockout show at the Dallas and Tate museums. Known as Richter's rival, Germany's abominable shaman spinning variations on Rosenquist, Rauschenberg, and benday-dot painter Lichtenstein, Polke makes more than mischief and "Polke dots" here: it adds up to a masterpiece.

The central image comes from a newspaper diagram of a spy satellite relaying the image of Al Qaida fleeing on horseback to CIA and RAF HQ and the US Army in Afghanistan. The picture rhymes with two 19th-century engravings, one showing a uniformed Frenchman astride a deer on a platform attached to a balloon, the other a German whose balloon is guided by eagles hitched up like horses. Today, machinery has displaced flesh: the steeds are earthbound, the balloons and eagles replaced by Predator drones, the balloonist's eyes with cameras and mechanical imagemaking. The halftone reduces the Al Qaida horsemen to a cartoon, then a still tinier inkblot. In his huge abstract painting I Live in My Own World, But It's Ok, They Knew Me Here, Polkefurther simplifies them into a blotch that resembles a flaw in a halftone, a mechanical artifact. It's all about patterns: in a painting of a halftone of a cowboy checking out a target, says Dickey, "the circular shape of the buckshot p! ellet, the pattern of circular holes the pellets make in the target, and the benday dots that constitute their photo representation flash back and forth in our perception in such a way that shooting guns, shooting pictures, and looking at pictures are proposed as analogous activities." This book teaches you a new way to see. –Tim Appelo ... Read more