Book Description

Written by an authoritative furniture historian, Wang Shixiang, this book provides beautiful color plates, basic knowledge, and detailed descriptions of many important pieces. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good Buy For The Money
Classic Chinese Furniture has wonderful illustrations and goes into introductions of the furniture any layman can understand. Mr. Wang has given many details to the reader so that a better understanding, what to look for and and how to judge the quality of a piece can be learned. Pen drawings of the pieces help to illustrate the different parts and clearly show the reader how the piece is put together. I travel to China often and purchased this book in Shanghai. It was more expensive in the bookstore in China than what Amazon charges...

A must for collectors
If you truly appreciate antique Chinese furniture for its grace and beauty, but like me, you can't afford a zitan Southern official chair or huanghuali opium day bed, Wang Shixiang's book, with loads of gorgeous photographs, is the next best thing to owning the actual pieces. More a coffee table book, than a reference book for antique buyers. Still, it's one of the best books around on Chinese antique furniture.

Gorgeous Book
Truly beautiful coffee table book, with plenty of photos of Chinese furniture. A must-have for anyone who loves Chinese furniture. A bargain at the [low] price!

A guideline to all Chinese Antique Furniture Collectors
I have read this book over and over again. Being in the Antique Furnitue business, it has helped me with all my favorite collections. I have met Mr. Wangshi Xiang before, and I do respect and appreciate his hard work for studying the topic for almost 40 years. It is my belief that this book has reinforced the wave of collection of Chinese Antique Furniture. It is really sad that there are more authentic and rare pieces despered overseas than in China now. ... Read more

Book Description

The most comprehensive reference ever published. 2,000 illustrations. A must for collectors! 2 vols., slipcased. ... Read more

Book Description

This visually stunning collection of all Klimt’s landscape paintings and drawings brings to light a little-known aspect of the Viennese painter’s oeuvre, proving that his mastery extends beyond portraiture, and revealing themes that appeared throughout his life’s work. ... Read more

Book Description

Steve Tolleson's approach to design might best be described as scientific: it involves relentless research in which every element of a project--down to its letterforms--is subject to rigorous study through almost imperceptible permutations. The end results of this process are designs that are meticulously executed, sometimes cerebral, but never without emotion and wit.

Soak Wash Rinse Spin investigates the cycles of the Tolleson Design creative process through a textual and graphic layering of information involving four phases: research (the intake of as much information as they can gather), collaboration (with the client and with the other members of the creative team), visual exploration (the workbook process, which includes refinements and the examination of multiple options), and environmental influences (consideration of the ultimate purpose of the solution).

Tolleson Design, located in San Francisco since its inception in 1984, produces corporate and product identity, annual reports, web and interactive design, packaging, and environmental graphics for a broad client base that includes Kodak, Nike, Microsoft, Virgin Interactive, Urban Outfitters, and the San Francisco Ballet. Their work has appeared in design publications such as Communication Arts, Graphis, and I.D. Magazine, and has received hundreds of awards. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Worth its weight in gold
I am a book freak and buy books worth atleast ... in the area of graphic design, web design and experience design every month. My collection is really huge. But this book is outstanding and something totally different from what I have ever seen in last 6 years of my career. This book makes the process of design 100% science than art. This book gives you skills to build you design based on solid logic and still keep it looking good. Plus after having gone through this book I have learnt to get my work approved like never before, as I am able to really make my clients see the reason as to what I have done is correct. This gives me much more time to do better work, read and learn more. Do go in for it. You will never regret. Actually I have bought 3 copies of this book. One for my room, one for my toilet and one for my office. ...

new standard for design monographs
When there are so many self serving design books out there full of thrown together pop-culture imagery, it stops you in your tracks to see something of such substance and thorough execution. It must have taken thousands of hours to put this together (2089 to be exact, as well as 43200 fl. oz. of coffee - as noted on the last page.) This is a studio with a long history of influential work, and well deserving of a monograph. It goes beyond that, as the text is worth the price alone. I'm not kidding when I say seeing work like this either makes me want to be a better, more disciplined designer, or just give it up altogether. The style may not be for everyone, but I'm a sucker for the aesthetics of science. This is the kind of book I'll keep looking at over and over again - impressed by the absolute quality, thought and craftsmanship. When this copy is all worn out, it will make a nice stout doorstop too.

A superb collection of inspiring design
I was a bit concerned about buying this book after reading complaints about type size, but after some debating I decided to just buy this book and decide for myself... and I'm glad that I did. Sure the type is small and a bit hard to read. But there are only significant ammounts of type on the first twenty pages. The majority of the remaining 268 pages contain mostly images. Some pages contain no type at all, other than page numbers.

This one gets 5 well deserved stars. Forget the type complaints and pick up a copy of this valuable addition to any designer's book collection.

Beauty in Imperfection
Soak Wash Rinse Spin's typesetting forces you to stop reading after too few pages. You really want to dig in but are quickly demoralized into putting it down.

Sagmeister's, "Made you look" was studied in wonder over a 10 hour session immediately after opening the package. I had never heard of him and i was quickly converted into a believer, all other scheduled items became secondary. Long lines of sans serif tiny type are the only thing that stopped this book from having an impact of similar strength.

An unrelated note, within one week, the binding cracked.

One research misjudgement on my part was to assume the book was published very recently and included their newest projects (see tolleson.com) It was published in 2000 of course, some projects have glimmers of past trends.

Nothing compares to the sheer visual firepower Tolleson blasts with both barrels. There is a beautiful logic flowing with every peice and you feel drawn into the scientific precision of the studio's creative process.

A printer's eye glass would be a fun attachment to assist in reading this book, which despite it's flaws is a proud part of my collection.

What's the point of this size?
This is a portfolio of work that is always interesting and often beautiful. The approach is as stimulating as the work and, sadly, this is where the book is done a great disservice by the size of the type. It is simply too small to read comfortably and seems to invite its dismissal. Everything seems irrelevant- small type not intended to be read because it's not important. It's unnecessary and unforgivable- an elementary folly that made me question the whole book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Art of the Motorcycle begins with a serious preface by Guggenheim director Thomas Krens, who calls the motorcycle "a quintessential symbol of the insecurity and optimism of our time." At 411 pages long (an ll-page, single-spaced bibliography of motorcycle books carries it over the top), it is a hefty compendium of motorcycle history, culture, design, and science. While the essays range from treatises to such fun stuff as "Bikes were always work for me," a long poem by Dennis Hopper, this thoroughgoing tome is above all a meticulous catalogue of the 96 motorcycles exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum during the summer of 1998, with details about engine design as well as esthetics. "Another significant innovation is the machine's throttle-controlled oiler," we read of the 1911 electric-orange Flying Merkel Model V. "Lubrication was a continuing problem in the early days ... but Merkel's system ... preceded by nearly two decades both Indian's as well as Harley-Davidson's adoption of this feature." The bikes are documented with crystal-clear photographs in this precision-built book. --Peggy Moorman ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Terrific photography makes this book worth the price
A fine selection of motorcycles, excellent photography and interesting essays make this a book that will keep you warm all winter. The descriptions of the bikes and why they were important to motorcycle development are accurate and well written. The selection of essays reflect riding culture well and present it in a way that shows how motorcycles have reflected the values of society.

It is unusual for me, a motorcyclist, to think of bikes as works of art. However, the photography of this book focuses my eyes and brain in new directions. After all, they didn't have to make that AJS clutch look like that, nor did the cases on the Italian bikes need to have that sensuous curve. Such is the Art of the Motorcycle and it is presented well here. If you missed the show at the Guggenheim or want to relive your visit, this book will suffice.

Keep it on your coffee table.

Anyone who loves motorcycles will love this book.
Don't let the price put you off. This book is well worth the price. The color pictures alone are worth it all. The century of motorcycle development is well illustrated and the essays complete the story of the motorcycle. Your favorite bike may not be here (mine's the German Horex which Honda copied) but you could visit dozens of museums and never see the selection that was gathered for the Guggenheim Museum Exhibit.

FINE CONTENT MARRED BY FAINT, SMALL PRINT
This is a nice "coffee table" book about their recent exhibit. As a rider since '59, I couldn't wait to get into the text, which is divided by time periods.
Alas, the print is a super thin, "artsy" typeface, very faint and grey colored- not a rich, easy to read, black Courier, for example. And the white space is excessive; they could have increased the typeface size by 4 or 5 points and still have more than enough border on each page!
Conclusion- a fine book marred by it's designers to make it less readable and useable!

Essential reading for enthusiasts
Museums, exhibits and the books devolving from them only hint at the mysteries they purport to show but rarely reveal. This is particularly true of exhibits of things that move, whether airplanes, cars and motorcycles on one hand, or people on the other. Once mummified via restoration and encapsulated in historical review, these lively subjects lose their kinesthetic value and become dessicated.
Within the limitations of those realities, here is a book that is endlessly fascinating and pleasing, replete with photos that while technically excellent are for the most part static and thus devoid of context. The essays, although pleasant, lack edge and passion, thus failing to evoke the adrenal glands (which operate at high levels when pushing a motorcycle to the limit).
The descriptions of the machines, from knowledgeable masters such as Kevin Cameron, capture the essence of what the designer tried to do and how well he (no known female motorcycle designers, but correct me if I'm wrong) hit his target.
This is a book to which one can return again and again with pleasure. For a rider who has survived (I confess, in context, that I'm the survivor of 1.6m miles on two wheels) and ridden any of these wondrous devices, the book is a channel back in time that the book conveys magnificently.
It is to the credit of the Guggenheim and the sponsors, such as BMW, that the show/book could be produced and could demonstrate to a wide public the fascination of motorcycles and riding them.
Even non-riders, who have seen motorcycles on the road or who may know motorcycle enthusiasts, will start to comprehend the addictive fascination that possesses riders who can't stop. If you are persuaded to ride, please wear the best gear you can afford, get training and realize that roadcraft only comes from mileage undertaken humbly but decisively, the kinesthetic realities no book, however good, can convey.

A Can't Go Wrong Gift
This book contains a good overview of motorcycling history, but its claims to fame are the wonderful photography and the high production values with which it was printed. It is a wonder to think that the photos are of bikes that actually exist today.

If you are searching for something to give to a person you know who enjoys riding motorcycles, who used to ride or who dreams of one day riding this is a can't miss gift. I received my copy as a gift two years ago, and I still enjoying reading it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great resource, fun read for SW enthusiasts.
If you've been lucky enough to see "The Magic of Myth" in one of its many permutations, this book is a great supplement to and a wonderful reminder of just how cool that exhibit was. If you haven't seen the exhibit, this book is still great to have for it's back-story on the origins of the trilogy.

I'm not the most well-read person around so it was a lot of fun to learn how Lucas' characters and story were shaped by (or copied from) myths and legends of other times and cultures. Reading this book has led me to explore some of the material that Lucas borrowed from in creating Star Wars. I'm a big SW nut, but it's nice to get my head out of the SW universe and out into other forms of art and literature.

If you don't feel like reading, this book is also full of GREAT photos from the trilogy.

I keep this one on the shelf next to Joseph Campbell's "Power of Myth." It is a nice complement to Campbell's book.

THE MYTH IS MAGIC
I love this book. I got it at the National Air & Space Museum. It is very fun to read. You can learn a lot from Darth Vader's Helmet To Luke Skywalker. It talks a lot about the "MYTH" of STAR WARS. A book you don't have to be a jedi to understand. Lots' of color pictures from the movie and the exhition in Washington. Don't miss this book, Also check out the STAR WARS SCRAPBOOK END

Great look at the magic behind George Lucas' masterpiece!
The Star Wars Trilogy is one of the most profound series of our time. This book shows how George Lucas put together many ingredients from history, mythical and factual, to create one of the best stories of good vs evil ever told. And the pictures and illustrations are beautiful. A "must have" for any Star Wars fan. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The artist as the perfectionist
This book does an excellent job of exploring the many contradictions of the life and career of an artist who was both his own biggest fan/promoter and his own harshest critic. The book presents the many talents (artist,etcher,interior designer to name a few) and his many flaws (vain, arrogant, bitter and self serving attitude) while still showing the human side of the artist . The illustrations are complete and a glorious showing of both his popular works as well as his less known pieces. The triad of this book, "Diabolical Designs" and "Beyond the Myth" reveal an artist who deserves much more critical and popular attention. ... Read more

Book Description

Q'ero is an isolated indigenous community in southern Peru, on the eastern slope of the Andes. In this harsh environment, a rich and complex textile tradition, the chief artistic expression of the Q'ero people, has endured from pre-Hispanic times. Woven from the hair of local alpacas, the colorful shawls, ponchos, bags, and other textiles produced are worn daily and form part of the rituals and ceremonies of Q'ero. Examining the textile traditions that are distinctive to Q'ero within those of the Cuzco area in general, Hidden Threads of Peru combines ethnography, anecdote, and textile art to offer fascinating new insights into a culture that can trace its traditions back to the Inca empire. The Q'ero people themselves discuss the significance of the fabrics they make and the nature of their Andean life, while photographs taken from the early twentieth century to the present day illustrate the daily life and rituals of the Q'ero people, as well as-in sumptuous full color-the textiles themselves, revealing the evolution and range of patterns over a one-hundred-year period. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Why are large, illustrated works offhandedly relegated to gather dust on the corner of your coffee table? Sure, you will want to put Good-Faeries/Bad Faeries in an obvious place, somewhere your friends will see it and pick it up, but it's far more than mere decoration. Froud's illustrations have delighted readers since his first book,Faeries, introduced us to the little people of folklore. Good Faeries/Bad Faeries is a doorway to the faery realm of the 20th century, where you'll meet delightful characters like Quempel, who dances to celebrate when something is done well; or the Buttered Toast Faery, who decides which side of a dropped piece of toast will hit the floor--faeries who will call you back so often that Good Faeries/Bad Faeries won't have a chance to gather dust. --Brian Patterson ... Read more

Reviews (57)

A beautiful volume of faery lore and art
First, I should confess that I bought this book in order to complete my library of Terri Windling titles, knowing nothing about the artist. Little did I know that the artist, Brian Froud, is one of the master "faery painters" of our day, and an artistic genius whose work I've enjoyed for years (through the films Dark Crystal and Labyrinth) without knowing his name. So once again I have Ms. Windling to thank for expanding my artistic horizons, just as she has expanded my literary horizons over many years. This is not a book for children, but a serious (if also whimsical) and sensuous look at faery legends, symbols and imagery. The text by Mr. Froud (with Ms. Windling's distinctive touch and guidance) is splendid, the pictures are fascinating. I highly recommend this book for the library of every fan of myth, legend, and nature lore. I would also recommend the lovely children's book by Mr. Froud's wife, Wendy Froud, also in collaboration with Ms. Windling. I give my thanks to all three of you for opening the door to this wondrous world.

This book is just wonderful!!!!!
I bought this book about a year ago,and Brian Froud's work is
just amazing.The pictures look so real,like you can just reach out and touch the faeries.I have loved faeries ever since I was a
child,and when I would look at some of the pictures,I would cry.
Some of the pictures look like the faces I see when I look at a bush,tree,or flower.And I'm not ashamed to say I see faeries all
the time.I will definitely buy all of Brian Froud's books.

Wonderful Art
I love this book so much i trasure it like it is gold. The art in it is trully magickal and enchanting. I love reading about the faeries and looking at the wonderful pictures, along with the '_faeires' oracle_' by Brian Froud and Jessica Macbeth. I remember spreading the oracle cards on my bed, and flipping the pages of the '_Good faeries, Bad Faeries_' and reading about them, before I sleep.

Inspiring and clever work. Must have.

Wonderful![.]
This is a beautiful book full of color illustrations and faery lore. Both "Good" and "Bad" faeries are included in this
whimsical book as well as all kinds of information regarding the mystical characters. Find out how to name a faery, the different faery classifcations and more.

Faeries, Faeries and More Faeries
An excellent book for people who enjoy Fantasy Art and anything related to faeries and goblins. Bryan Froud developed this great book from beautiful faeries to the grotesque, he takes his immagination to a different level. Bryan Froud worked with Jim Henson in "The Dark Crystal" and several images from "Good Faeries, Bad Faeries" were adapted for Jim Henson's film. There are other books that may accompany "Good Faeries and Bad Faeries" and that is the one by his wife Wendy Froud "The Winter Child" and "Midsummer's Night Faery Tale". ... Read more

Book Description

Regularly referred to as the father of Pop Art, Richard Hamilton was an early, lively, and satirical discoverer of the art of the everyday consumer good. In the mid-50s, like many artists who were to follow in his wake, Hamilton discovered the mythic and epic elements that lurked in the contemporary world of imagery and integrated these found objects into his work. If Hamilton is best known for his collages--most especially his 1956 Just What Is It That Makes Today's Homes So Different, So Appealing?--he has maintained a consistent interest in the art of printmaking throughout his career. His first exhibition, in 1950, featured etchings; in the early 60s he pioneered the use of silkscreens; and since 1988 he has created a world of images via the computer. This volume collects 64 years of the artist's prints on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Essays by Etienne Lullin, Stephen Coppel and Dieter Schwarz.

Hardcover, 9.25 x 12.5 in., 320 pages, 244 color, 36 b/willustrations ... Read more

Book Description

A Metropolitan Museum of Art Publication The most important collection of Cypriot antiquities outside Cyprus is the Cesnola Collection at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, assembled by Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the first director of the museum. Cesnola was a Civil War veteran who went to Cyprus in 1866 and, in excavations there, sought to rival the finds of Heinrich Schliemann at Troy. Now, on the occasion of the redesign of the Metropolitan's Cypriot galleries, comes this gorgeously illustrated catalogue of some 500 objects, ranging from glass, stone sculpture, and terra-cotta figurines to lamps, pottery, and jewelry.

The Cesnola Collection includes works that are among the finest examples of Cypriot art from the prehistoric, Archaic, Classical/Hellenistic, and Roman periods. The first scholarly catalogue since 1914 of a large selection from the Cesnola Collection, this volume will be an invaluable reference.

260 illustrations, 250 in full color, 5 line drawings, 8 1/2 x 11"

VASSOS KARAGEORGHIS has authored numerous scholarly volumes and articles on Cypriot antiquities, published in the United States, Europe, and Cyprus.

JOAN R. MERTENS is curator, Department of Greek and Roman Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. MARICE E. ROSE is research associate, Department of Greek and Roman Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkNew galleries opening in ... Read more

Reviews (5)

a beautiful book
a beautiful book of green's work
if you are a fan of his artwork--this book is an excellent compilation in both presentation and accompanying text

Jonathan Green's art is a quite simply a celebration
of color and of life. His vivid paintings make you feel glad to be alive

A wonderful, colorful accounting of Mr. Green's work
Conroy has done a splendid job of putting together the works of Jonathan Green. Not only does the book show Green's unique style to best advantage, but includes great information about the Gullah people and the artist. A must have book for anyone interested in the Gullahs or Jonathan Green.

Alive with color and culture.
This is a perfect coffee table book. It is educational as well as asthetically pleasing.

Growing up in the North, my grandmother often took my sister and I back to South Carolina to experience our "roots". The flavors of the Gullah tradition (custome, food, language, religion) come alive in Jonathan Green's work.

Stunning imagery that evokes a timeless place...
...and captures the spirit of a people of African descent. Having seen Mr. Green's original canvasses, I can attest to the accuracy and quality of the color reproductions in this book - it is a true feast for the eyes as well as the soul. Every time I open this book (and I do often) it lifts my mood and fills my heart, and always, always, makes me smile - broadly. It is a must have book to have and hold and to gift to others. ... Read more

Book Description

This beautiful book reproduces more than 120 paintings, drawings, pastels, sculptures, and prints of horses and scenes at the racecourse-all created by Edgar Degas. Examining for the first time Degas`s lifelong interest in the world of jockeys and horses, the book discusses the artist`s portrayals of people at the racing grounds and the importance of the horse as a source of his inspiration. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A quiet man who lived with his beloved mother, the painter Édouard Vuillard applied his inventive talents to re-imagining bourgeois interiors as shifting planes of color and pattern. Admirers of his sensuous interior world will be bowled over by this sumptuous volume with its vivid narrative and 463 exquisite color reproductions. In Édouard Vuillard, Guy Cogeval discusses the artist's life and work with a passionate involvement that is rare in contemporary art writing. He describes how Vuillard's early work as a set designer apparently led him to stage manage family members, placing them in tense or confrontational tableaux that he memorialized in paint. Vuillard was an enthusiastic amateur photographer who favored the new handheld Kodak camera. An entire chapter is dedicated to the artist's charmingly artless snapshots of family and friends. In his later years, Vuillard utilized a more down-to-earth painting style in portraits of the rich and famous. While these paintings are often dismissed as conservative, Cogeval points out Vuillard's use of subtle details to comment on some of his sitters. Four other essayists treat themes ranging from "Vuillard and Ambiguity" to the effect of his annual summer vacations on his treatment of landscape, light and composition. This exceptional book accompanies an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 19 to April 20, 2004, which travels to Montreal, Paris, and London.--Cathy Curtis ... Read more

Reviews (2)

From hesitation to a superb rating....
I had the opportunity to see this show at the National Gallery in Washington D.C. and am amazed at how well everything was represented both in the book and at the show. At first I wasn't going to buy the book but, after speaking with my painting professor, who has been collecting Vuillard books for over 30 years, state that this is THE most comprehensive book of Vuillard's work and probably has more information and work than all his other Vuillard books combined, well, that clenched it and I had to get the book. I am very, very glad I did.

An authoritative coverage of Vuillard's vast body of art
The career of this French painter and photographer spanned the first four decades of the 20th century and produced a wealth of works. Edouard Vuillard represents the most comprehensive and authoritative study of Vuillard's art, with over a hundred works covering the wide range of his creations and enjoying essays by the authors, who explore his career and influences. Though it's the catalog for an exhibition in Washington DC, Edouard Vuillard will also earn its own rightful place as an authoritative coverage of Vuillard's vast body of art. ... Read more

Book Description

The epitome of high culture or an assault on public morality? The nude figure was one of the most controversial issues in Victorian art. It was also one of the most conspicuous categories for the visual image at every level, from elite paintings for the Royal Academy to mass-produced photographs and magazine illustrations. Exposed: The Victorian Nude provides a fascinating overview of the nude figure-both male and female-and the intriguing role it played in Victorian art. While it concentrates on painting, sculpture, and drawing, this beautifully illustrated reference also explores the depiction of the naked body in other media-including photography, popular illustration, advertising, and caricature-and discusses the issues of morality, sexuality, and desire that are relevant even today. Since nudes were an important subject for most Victorian artists, Exposed: The Victorian Nude showcases dazzling artwork from such legendary masters as Millais, Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Whistler, and Sargent, as well as pivotal figures of early English modernism. Cutting across the conventional categories of style and period, this guide offers a fresh, engrossing vision of Victorian art and culture unmatched anywhere else. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the most exciting art books ever to come our way
If you love figurative imagery, meticulously composed and executed, you will definitely love this book

Exposed: A Beautiful Book Reveals a Controvesial Subject
Exposed: A beautiful and Informative Book about a Controversial Topic

What surprised and delighted me most, by both the exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, and by this wonderful text that accompanied the show and is now available to purchase, is the unbiased historical approach to the theme of Victorian Nudes and Sexuality. Most museums and texts that dare to present 19th century Victorian and academically rendered art (art in the realist tradition taught by the academic art schools of the period) have accompanying text that is tongue-in-cheek or satirically critical of this artwork. But this book, as the exhibition (which was organized and sponsored by the Tate Britain museum in England) gives serious insight into the Victorian controversy of nudity and sexuality. "Exposed: The Victorian Nude" explains with respect, what the artists of that era were trying to do. It analyses the social climate of the time, the innovative and daring works of the period's masters, as well as lesser artists, and shows the influence this art had on popular trends and views. The book is also rich in color plates and is a visual delight as well as a wealth of historical knowledge. There are fine examples of paintings by Frederic Leighton, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Evelyn De Morgan, Herbert Draper, Anna Lea Merritt, Annie Swynnnerton, John William Waterhouse, Philip Hermogenes Calderon, Edward John Poynter, Albert Moore, George Frederic Watts and Earnest Normand. There are also fabulous drawings by William Mulready, William Holman Hunt, Ford Madox Brown, and John Everett Millais as well as photos of great sculpture of the period. This impressive book would make a wonderful holiday gift for anyone interested in the Victorian Era. If you are interested in my complete review of this book and show, with many examples of the colored plates from the book and descriptions of the paintings, you make find the review at www.artrenewal.org This site, The Art Renewal Center, is the largest on-line museum on the Internet and is a non-profit art educational organization. The review may be found in the top menu under Articles/latest articles/ "Exposed: The Victorian Nude" by Sherry Lazarus Ross.

Concentrates on painting, sculpture and drawing
Alison Smith deftly edits Exposed: The Victorian Nude, a photographic exploration of the range of Victorian representations of both male and female figures. This concentrates on painting, sculpture and drawing, but also explores photos, popular illustration and film. An excellent history. ... Read more

Book Description

Ancient Egyptian antiquities are dominated by art and artifacts depicting the Netherworld, the alternate universe which mummified bodies would enter at the end of their physical lives, where they would live on for eternity.In this dazzling book, photographs and exhaustive texts illustrate the promise of a glorious rebirth pervaded the daily life of Egyptians, from commoners to the most powerful pharaohs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautifully illustrated catalog
This exhibition catalog is beautifully illustrated, with many of the photographs extremely clear and all of very high quality. Most inscriptions are readable; larger objects are not just shown whole, but also in detail. It is a pleasure to see some many objects from Tanis included - King Tut has been over-exposed and the Tanis objects are less well-known.

The introductory essays provide useful background information; the catalog item descriptions are useful but of varying depth.

Great companion to a wonderful exhibit
The Quest for Immortality now at the National Gallery in Washington, DC is an eye-popping collection of famous items and unseen wonders from Cairo's Egyptian Museum. With the images fresh in your mind of the originals use the catalog articles to expand your knowledge of Queen Ahhotep and her jewels or the beauty of Nakhtmin's wife.

Don't miss my favorites the charming Ptolemaic bronze cat votive and the lapis lazuli Goddess Maat from the Third Intermediate Period. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive account of the life and work of Richard Avedon, to accompany a major retrospective of the photographic work at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Useful roadmap to Avedon's work
I'm glad that I own this book but potential buyers should be aware that this is a history of Avedon's work, not a stunning presentation of his photographs. The book contains hundreds of images but most of them are small in size. The images are arranged chronologically with some associated text. The book also contains two essays about Avedon and a detailed bibliography listing press accounts about him. There is also a helpful list of the various books that Avedon has published.

I would recommend his other titles -- "In the American West" for example -- if you want to see the full-size, stunning photographs for which Avedon is famous.

Not bad, but not so good as I expected
The book is OK. Nevertheless beware: there is more text than photographs. And they are tiny in most cases. He who prefers to read about photographs rather than to see them will be pleased. I am a little disappointed.

Absolutely terrific
This is a wonderful collection. I have found myself going back to it again and again. I'm not sure Adam Gopnik was such a good choice, although he is a lively writer; but the other New Yorker art critic, Peter Schejhal (sp?) would certainly have been better, as entertaining as Gopnik but more focused and memorable. But this is just a small complaint; overall, I love this book and hope that every library in the world someday owns a copy.

Beautiful, amazing, changed my life
I really liked this book. The photos are extraordianry. Fine work done by Adam Gopnik ... Read more

Reviews (1)

All the usual suspects and a few surprises too
A good over view of how watercolor caught on in America and rose to the standard of English work in that medium. Worth getting for the chapter on William Trost Richards, who really ought to be part of an American Watercolor Triumverate, along with Homer and Sargent. There are out of print monographs on Richards but this seems to be the best place to see examples of his work if you can't get your hands on them. ... Read more