Book Description

Although Picasso's masterful and often witty treatment of newsprint spanned most of his artistic career, until now, with the exception of the period of the papiers colls (1912-14), it has remained a largely unexplored area of his creative genius. From an early age Picasso was fascinated with newspaper, having written and produced his own family newspaper at just thirteen. He developed a fascination for the newspaper as object, with all its ordinariness and popularity. As his career progressed, Picasso used newspaper as much for its visual as for its physical qualities - as material in collage, as the support for large-scale line drawings, or, in combination with its printed photographs, for dramatic and often playfully grotesque sketches. Newspaper cuttings and headlines later became influential in Picasso's experimentation with Surrealism, and remained a primary material in his painting, sculpture and printmaking throughout the rest of his career. Much of this work has remained unpublished until now.

Anne Baldassari explores the political ramifications of Picasso's use of newspaper reports - including those on the Spanish Civil War and Guernica - and shows how his work on newsprint made use of what the text said as much as what it looked like. During the Occupation of France, using newsprint as a support became a pretext for the defacement of Nazi propaganda, and Picasso was always ready to transform apparently innocuous press photographs into sometimes comic, sometimes disturbing burlesques of personal, political or sexual life - and often all three at once. He subverted the press, using his scissors, ink, pencil and paint to make his own meanings.

For Picasso, art was inextricably tied to the 'real', and newspapers, essential to the social construction of reality, could not have been more appropriate a medium for his radical reassessment of the relationship between art and its immediate context. Nearly 200 of these intriguing works and documents, mainly from the artist's own archive, are brought together here for the first time in this elegantly designed volume, which examines the enduring fascination that the most ephemeral of printed productions held for the most extraordinary and influential artist of the twentieth century. ... Read more

Book Description

Composition is one of the most important elements to any painting, butit can also be one of the most intimidating. The long list of rules for designing andstructuring a work is complicated, hard to remember and downright mystifying. In thissimple resource, Greg Albert boils it all down to one golden rule: Never make any twointervals the same.He demonstrates this fool-proof technique with clear, concise diagrams, before-and-afterstudent paintings and samples from today’s top painters. Readers will get to learn fromthe work of Frank Webb, Tony Couch, Zoltan Szabo, Tony Van Hasselt, Tom Lynch andmany more! Artists of all levels with find this secret to great composition easy toremember and even easier to use.

Greg Albert is Editorial Director of North Light Books. He’s also an artist, author andteacher who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A helpful review of design/composition
Composition, also called design, is the heart of painting planning; only color planning is perhaps more complex and challenging. This books contains an admirable review of most of the essential aspects of composition, including very pertinent illustrations that neatly clarity the points made in words. (I plan to take the book with me on a sketching/painting trip beginning in a few days to Yosemite and the coast of California as a quick reference to remind me of compositional points--because of these handy illustrations).
However, I must make a few critical remarks, the most important first.
All the books I have read that cover this subject--and I don't claim to have read them all, just many--fail in this way: They do not provide a systematic approach to designing a painting that incorporates all or most of the sigmificant things to remember. Tom Lynch comes close in his "Watercolor Secrets" (recommended) and his recently published "100 charts" (highly recommended). Even the august Edgar Whitney with all his dogmatic principles only hints at possible approaches covering some of his material. Margaret M. Martin "No More Wishy-Washy Watercolor" (highly recommended) does give excellent guidance on dealing with values, the most important aspect of design. But I have found no overall systematic approach that incorporates all the many things to remember. What should one do first, then next, and before this, etc? Maybe there just isn't one! But this book does not integrate all the material, I feel, as it promises.
Second, what do I mean "does not integrate"? Some of the applications of the one rule seem forced. Also, the rule winds up complicated in its application,in that the issue becomes, how do I define "intervals" within the rule "Never make any two intervals the same." What does that mean with color? Just hue? Also intensity? Etc. This book is not consistently clear. The problem frequently becomes, then, clarifying the meaning of "intervals" with each new aspect of design/composition one deals with, which can be more work--and harder to recall in the field--than just forgetting the "rule" and applying the aspects needed at any given point in planning or painting.
Albert's book is admirably ambitious but unfortunately not entirely successful in simplifying design by means of his single rule.
Nevertheless, again, because of the brilliantly instructive illustrations, the thorough coverage of the subject, and the often insightful text, this book is nevertheless highly recommended. Just don't expect the process to get that much easier.

Throw away your rule books
This book is great. Forget about learning a hundred different rules. Read this book and you've got it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this magnificent book, Pietro Marani, the director of the project to restore Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, presents all the artist's known paintings. The history and significance of each are analyzed at length: we read, for example, that "from a very early date, Mona Lisa was considered among Leonardo's most extraordinary accomplishments, one that made every other artist 'tremble and lose heart.'" Context is provided by a wealth of related paintings and sketches. The presentation is extravagant: double foldouts show frescoes in their entirety, and small areas are hugely expanded to give access to a world of sensuous detail. The intimacy of these extreme details--a tiny blue landscape glimpsed through a window, or the warm flesh of a baby's foot resting on its mother's arm--is unexpected, and one of the book's many successes.

Marani combines connoisseurship with the technological tools of art history, such as x-ray exploration of revisions in a painting's underdrawings. He has spent his life studying Leonardo's paintings firsthand, so closely that he can point to where the artist lightly blurred layers of paint with his fingertips to suggest the soft skin around the eyes of his portraits of women. A chapter is devoted to Marani's belief that Leonardo was profoundly influenced by ancient artworks rather than being exclusively the "modern genius" described by Romantic critics. The research is fully footnoted, with appendices including checklists of paintings and lost paintings and a collection of all known primary documents referring directly to Leonardo's life. From its enigmatic cover (the lips of the artist's exquisite portrait of Ginevra de' Benci) to its extensive bibliography, Leonardo da Vinci comes the closest this reviewer has seen to being the ultimate art book. --John Stevenson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

beauty to impress on the marrow of your soul
I bought this book pretty much as an impulse buy. I was very glad I did! I love Leonardo's paintings, I've had the pleasure of viewing some in the Louvre. I think it is such an amazing gift to be able to reproduce observation, providing insight into an individuals sense of consideration and emphasis. These last two are a requisite for style, along with skill in execution, which almost like text must convey clarity with the gradual perfecting in time, we have something most profound. I often find myself contemplating the pictures in this book, and being a scientist more than an artist, I was curious as to how it affected me so. Our sense of achievement is in part appreciated on the point that we can follow a path to the point of completion with the appreciation of the process rather than the end point attained. Now to understand and appreciate anothers achievement would require a sound and deep empathy of anothers 'travelled path', with Leonardo and others I just cannot empathise and understand how one can attain to something so majestic and magnificent I'm literally in awe, hence the belief that it is something beyond the sum of its parts (its make-up) - a gift. This book presents the wonderful works of this man and what is conveyed in the art. It is a little understanding of the personality and character of a unique time and individual. A great book!

Nearly perfect in every way
I don't know how daVinci did it. His artwork is so fantastic and its all so well presented in this rather impressive tome. He was such an amazing man and this book beautifully shows every tiny facet of his array of experiences and talents.

Leonardo - my hero. This book - my bible.
My dear fellow artists, You, like myself, have been blessed (cursed (?)) with an ability to draw and to dream, in the quest for beauty. This is it! As artists, nobody can outdo Leonardo. On Leonardo, this one is the best, the most complete. Read as many books on Leonardo as you wish, but make sure to own this one!

What a beautiful book ! Worth every dollar. Don't miss it.
I have no words to describe what I felt enjoying this book. Worth every single dollar it costs. You will never regret buying it and browsing it whenever you wish to. Every Da Vinci's painting is displayed and explained in full details and colors. Starting with Leonardo's apprenticeship in Verrocchio's shop until his first autonomous works, Pietro Marani's book is a must buy not only for all Da Vinci's fans worldwide but to all people who love true art. Don't waste your time with gossip books and stuff... read this book, and you won't be sorry. Never. I assure you. In Brazil, where I live, you don't find such a book easily. Thank God there's Amazon.com to bring me such a treasure as this masterpiece.

TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BELIEVE
THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLETE ART BOOK I HAVE EVER SEEN. I WAS AN ARCHITURE MAJOR FOR A WHILE IN COLLEGE, I TOOK MANY ART HISTORY COURSES; BUT, NONE OFFERED THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK. THERE ARE SEVERAL FOUR-PAGE FOLD OUTS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE REAL THING -- ORIGINAL ART.

THIS MAGNIFICENT VOLUME ALSO CONTAINS ALL THE SKETCHES AND WORK SHEETS THAT LED UP TO THE FINAL PRODUCTION.

I AM WRITING THIS FOR ANYONE IN DOUBT ABOUT BUYING THIS BOOK. BUY IT, YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS UNTIL YOU SEE IT. (AMAZON.COM DIDN'T PAY ME TO SAY THIS.)

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS. I LOVE THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Book Description

The year prior to the battle of Gettysburg was the high-water mark for the Confederacy; single-minded, its superior officers were unified under the command of General Robert E. Lee. GODS AND GENERALS: THE PAINTINGS OF MORT KUNSTLER focuses on the strategic collaboration between Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson in the battles leading up to July 1863: Second Bull Run (or Manassas), Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. The roots of a tradition of undying valor and constancy were founded here, and they have been a vibrant heritage for subsequent generations.

This story, based on the best-selling novel by Jeff Shaara (Gods and Generals), also involves Union officers Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and Winfield Scott Hancock, one a professor of religion from Bowdoin College, and the other a graduate of West Point. The dramatic text and pictures bring to life this crucial time as the Confederacy dominated the battlefields with their skillful speed and flexibility. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Beautiful work of a master artist
Gods and Generals: The Paintings of Mort Kunstler rivals its previous companion book to Gettysburg. Kunstler tells the story leading up to the battle of Gettysburg using his masterful brush to translate history into color paintings. The text and the paintings weave the tale of how America eventually tore itself asunder in the Civil War. Its an excellent collector's piece and great introduction into the Civil War.
I also found Kunstler did not paint as many movie scenes in this book, instead capturing the actual historical looks of these "Gods and Generals" of the Civil War. Any lover of history or military art will appreciate his attention to detail and riviting scenes. Enjoy!

A Beautiful Book of Beautiful and Educational Paintings
Mr. Kunstler has provided us with another book of his arrestingly beautiful paintings. Art, of course, is largely a matter of taste and proverbially in the eye of the beholder. Mr. Kunstler, however, even from as objective a standpoint as possible, has no peer as a chronicler of the Civil War. I have been interested in that period of history for about half a century, but it has been Mr. Kunstler's paintings over the past dozen or more years that have brought that war to life for me, and, I am sure, for many others. Although he is a prolific artist, he never compromises with quality, and the quality of his work is unsurpassed.

The subjects of Mr. Kunstler's paintings are invariably interesting, and he does not like to paint scenes or events that have been done previously by other artists. This book is the companion to, and illustrative of, the events and people of the novel "Gods and Generals" by Jeff Shaara, soon to be made into a motion picture of the same name. It follows four exceptional soldiers through the first two years of the war: Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Winfield S. Hancock, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.

In this book, there are many new paintings not yet published elsewhere, but whether you are an old Kunstler aficionado or newly introduced to his work, you will find this book unequaled. The reproductions of the paintings are eye-catching, displaying each painting in vibrant, striking colors, true to Mr. Kunstler's originals. I say above that his paintings are educational, and so they are. I urge you to look closely at every work of art. If you do, you will not only see an astonishing amount of detail, but also learn much about the people, the times, the objects people used, and the war. Again, we have Mr. Kunstler's constant striving for perfection to thank for paintings which are correct in every detail. He is the quintessential perfectionist, who painstakingly researches every detail, no matter how small, to provide his audience with true, as well as beautiful, depictions of people, places, and things. He consults with knowledgeable historians, such as Professor Robertson, who wrote the text for this book, on even such matters as the weather on the particular day that he wants to depict in a painting. All of the accouterments are true, as well as the animals, the uniforms, the weapons, the landscapes, the battlefield situations, the lighting -- everything. Rarely does one find, in one individual such as Mr. Kunstler, artistry to the point of genius coupled with an unceasing demand for perfection in all of the details of his art.

I admit that I am no connoisseur of art and that I can claim no expertise or experience in art. Even someone such as I, however, can at least partially appreciate the artistic techniques used by Mr. Kunstler. His positioning of people, animals, buildings, and other objects to lead the observer's eye to the main subject of the painting, his extraordinary use of light to play on this or that subject in the picture in greater or lesser brilliance in order to accentuate or subordinate that subject, and his use of color, always precise, to delineate bright sunshine or dark shadow, or to emphasize or minimize, are all techniques that even such as I can note and admire. His paintings are so life-like as to defy the observer to differentiate them from photographs. But no photographs could depict such wonderful color and the precise instants in time which Mr. Kunstler so deftly chooses to picture.

Mr. Kunstler has, with every book he has introduced, been able to obtain the very best in historians/commentators to draft the texts. He has obtained the services of, for example, Henry Steele Commager (for the book "The American Spirit: The Paintings of Mort Kunstler"), James I. Robertson, Jr. (for "Jackson and Lee: Legends in Gray," "The Confederate Spirit: Valor, Sacrifice and Honor," and the current work), James M. McPherson (for "Gettysburg"), and Dee Brown (for "Images of the Old West"). Dr. Robertson's text in "Gods and Generals: The Paintings of Mort Kunstler" is, as always, the perfect complement to the paintings. As with Mr. Kunstler's art, so also with Dr. Robertson's narrative, one can learn much, whether one is a novice or an experienced hand.

Thus, whether you are a "Civil War buff" or simply interested in exceptional art and edifying prose, you will enjoy this book (and you would do well to consider obtaining Mr. Kunstler's previous books, named parenthetically above). You cannot go wrong with the team of Kunstler and Robertson.

For the beautiful art, alone...
This book is worth 5 stars!! My 8 year old son is just beginning to discover what it means to be born in the south. I want him to have an accurate picture of what the civil war was all about. It is hard to find civil war books with enough pictures to keep him interested. This book has plenty of high quality art for him to see and includes text that we can read together! I highly reccomend it based on those gorgeous paintings. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

flowers on the net
the book was very informative and gave the writers view of the painters personality and how it affected his work. i would recommend it to beginners and veterans in the world of art. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Georgia O'Keeffe's unconventional paintings of mountains, bones, and flowers--often on a giant scale--and her clear, simple forms and colors made her an early pioneer of a new American modernism. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum opened in summer 1997 in Santa Fe, presenting works from all periods of the artist's long career. Providing a remarkable virtual tour through the museum, this beautiful clothbound volume with French folded jacket features essays by leading art writers such as Barbara Rose and Mark Stevens, and a new, thorough chronology by Charles Eldredge. Included in the 86 full-color images and 4 lavish gatefolds are many works that have never been reproduced before, which are complemented throughout by black-and-white photographs documenting the extraordinary life of this courageous, inventive artist (1887-1986). For O'Keeffe fans unable to travel to Santa Fe for a personal pilgrimage, this book is the next best thing. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful Book
A nice representation of her works as well as information about her life and times. Reproductions of her paintings and the amount of those works included in the book, make this a great value for your money.

A wonderful book!
I really liked this. Lots of color reproductions of O'Keeffe's paintings, including several "fold-out" double pages. Covers her early mid and late periods. This is also a book about the museum devoted to her in New Mexico, The size of the book is nice too. A bit smaller than "coffee-table" huge dimension. A book you can browse through. Can be an introduction to Georgia O'Keeffe's art and life for somebody just learning about her, or can be extra fun for a real O'Keeffe fan. ... Read more

Book Description

Decode the mysterious symbolism that can make even the most familiar paintings elusive!

Discover the refreshingly new approach to art appreciation in Art. Using detailed annotation of 45 works from the world's greatest artists, Art provides a deeper understanding and richer enjoyment of the masterpieces of painting.

Great Art Made Accessible. This fascinating book takes an original approach to interpreting the lost language of art, using annotation to highlight everything you need to know to appreciate the world's favorite paintings, from Botticelli's The Birth of Venus to Picasso's Guernica. Art explains the artist's techniques and intentions and clarifies the meaning of obscure subjects, decoding the mysterious symbolism that can make even the most familiar painting elusive.

Art is like a gallery full of the world's most spectacular paintings, including the devotional icons of the Gothic period and early Renaissance and the awe-inspiring achievements of the High Renaissance. It shows the splendor of the Baroque and Rococo, and scrutinizes the drama of the Neoclassicists and the Romantics. The enchantment of the Impressionist school and the complexities of the Cubist movement are also revealed in glowing color. Biographical notes on the artist place each work in its true personal and historical context.

The book's generous size and faithful color reproduction allow every painting to be displayed accurately and in detail. At last, art lovers can truly enter the world of their favorite paintings. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Good book
My Mother is really into art and I bought this for her b-day. When I got it I looked through it and it was very informational and had some really cool facts and pictures about art.

If you only invest in 1 book to learn about art, this is it.
This book is a great introduction or review for adults or teens. Using famous works of art, in color sure beats the first art appreciation book I read in college which had drawings and black and white grainy photos. Even with a degree in art history, I found this book a great refresher.

this is a terrific book
This is both fun and informative. Though the language may be pitched at a relatively easy level, there is nothing condescending about it. It is deeply informed, and even the professor will learn from it. Buy it without hesitation if you wish to learn about great paintings.

Book For All Ages and A Great Author
I am only 13 years old and I have this book and I thought it was great. It really did explain art. I saw things that I actually wouldn't notice if I was explaining the picture. It was an interesting book and I enjoyed looking at it. It made me understand the pictures and made art funner and more interestig than it used to be. It was very interesting and I hope you buy this book.

A new appreciation for art
In all my years in school I never knew annotated art existed. If I had, art would have become a passion of mine a long time ago. Cummings's book provides such a detailed analytical look at art and explains why these paintings were so extraordinary for their time and teaches you to look beyond your first impression to what the artist had in mind, as well as what you yourself get out of it. Not only does he do this with words, but more importantly, he does it with highlighted areas of the painting and gives historical insight to it. I love art and appreciate it so much more now. ... Read more

Book Description

The works in the National Gallery, London, includes masterpieces of Renaissance art, the largest collection of Velasquez outside of Spain, early Flemish paintings, Florentine and Sienese paintings at its height, and works by the greatest French painters. Added to this extraordinary heritage are masterpieces of French Impressionism and the British school. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another feather in Bulfinch's cap
Without question, a must-have for any serious art lover. The quality of the text and illustrations are first-rate as is expected from the arguably finest art book publisher of our time. As essential to any library as "Paintings in the Vatican" and "Paintings in the Uffizi and Pitti." Keep them coming, Bulfinch! ... Read more

Book Description

This elegantly illustrated book brings a new perspective to Martin Johnson Heade and his works, portraying the artist as one of the most original and productive of the nineteenth century. The book reproduces Heade`s 620 known paintings, many newly discovered. These include a spectacular array of landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, tropical studies, and original compositions pairing orchids and hummingbirds. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Thorough Overview
This book is more than just basic instruction, but it starts with the basics and progresses though the essentials to advanced figure drawing and painting concepts. It is not a step-by-step guide but a thorough presentation of these concepts and how they relate to the final artwork. I have read numerous other books and taken a number of life drawing and painting classes so I was especially impressed to learn several techniques/concepts which were new to me. In addition, several artists are featured which helps avoid techniques unique to a particular artist. I highly recommend the book for any artist seeking a comprehensive overview of figure drawing and painting.

Visually Perfect
This is my favorite book on painting the figure. The book demonstrates that there are many approaches to the figure and each technique is demonstrated by a different artist. The book is very well illustrated with color photo's of the examples in process, the artist working on them and there models. Truth is I admire some of the artist in the book and enjoy the beautiful photo's of there work. For the student and the master of art the book offers many angles and approaches in every medium. The books introduction was written philosophically and historically offering an overview of changes in attitude and approaches artist have tackled the figure with. In the end it's a very sincere, informative, and visually dynamic book. A must have for any artist or teachers library.

Painting People
This is a great overview for anybody who wants to paint the human figure. It covers the tradition of the nude, the basics of proportions and anatomy, a variety of media, clothed and nude, various types of poses and models. Just about everything.

Step by step guides from pose to painting are frequent - we see inside an artist's studio, palette, thought processes and techniques. As a beginner in life drawing, I found this book my number one resource whenever I wanted to practice and follow up what I had learnt in class.

Not an in-depth guide to a narrow subject, this book's breadth is its strong point. An ideal starting place, but without stopping too soon and leaving the user or reader wanting more. A perfect mix of overview and detail, in my opinion.

Highly recommended.

Absolutely Excellent!
Great examples of drawing and painting from the subject! Excellent photography! Highly recommended for anyone interest in figure drawing and / or painting.

Very Good Overview of this subject
Strong Examples, inspiring, and well thought out. The book gives a nice historic summary. Overall, the book is much better than most "series" books. Good for beginners to figure drawing. ... Read more

Book Description

This outstanding book overturns longstanding assumptions about theway art evolved in Renaissance Florence. David Franklin challenges the reliability andusefulness of the terms "High Renaissance" and "Mannerism," which have been usedcommonly to describe and define the extraordinary paintings of the FlorentineRenaissance. Franklin offers instead a new perspective on the progress and developmentof art in Florence, structuring his discussion around the lives and works of twelveinfluential Italian painters of the era.The book provides a detailed account of the criticalperiod from about 1500, when Leonardo returned to Florence, to the publication in 1550of Vasari's first edition of the Lives of the Artists. With penetrating analyses of careers,influences, and specific paintings, Franklin isolates two main strands in RenaissanceFlorentine painting. He brings to light the passionate rivalry between a deeply localizedattitude toward art exemplified by Michelangelo and Leonardo and climaxing in the workof Pontormo, and a style influenced by the Roman art of Raphael that Vasari tried withsome success to import into Florence. For the former group, life drawing and expressivehuman form were at the heart of their enterprise, while for the latter it was superficialnarrative arranged for decorative effect. Franklin's unprecedented examination ofVasari's work as a painter in relation to his vastly better-known writings fully illuminatesthese dual strands in Florentine art and offers us a clearer understanding of sixteenth- century painting in Florence than ever before.The volume focuses on twelve painters:Perugino, Leonardo da Vinci, Piero di Cosimo, Michelangelo, Fra Bartolomeo, RidolfoGhirlandaio, Andrea del Sarto, Franciabigio, Rosso Fiorentino, Jacopo da Pontormo,Francesco Salviati, and Giorgio Vasari. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

An excellent book!
I was not sure how I would like this book but found it to be excellent! Covers aspects of landscape painting that could be overlooked. I believe this book has improved my painting skills!

It is a good reference book on painting landscapes.
I was rather careful when rating this book to be fair and, honestly, I had tried to read it over to be sure of my opinion. This was because other reviewers have such high opinions about it.

I ponder the reasons others give such good comments about this book are because:

1) The book is thorough. It covers materials, techniques, color theory, meanings of brushstrokes (for instance, each type of brush stroke carries a certain mood), and apparently a lot of how-to's and do's-dont's.

2) The work done by the author is in photographic style. She uses vivid colors in most of her paintings. Also, a lot of details were rendered in her work; one of the reasons may be because most (if not all) of her work were done from reference photos (single or combination thereof).

From an en plein air and alla prima painter's point of view, unfortunately, I find the book a little dull with full of rules and do's and dont's. Perhaps it is just a very personal thing, but when out there painting "en plein air", a lot of "vibes" and "moods" rendered onto the paintings come from the fact of "being out there with nature", not with pre-defined rules. That is also the reason that photographic style from photos is not my favorite.

Respectfully, I consider this a good reference book on painting landscapes, especially if the readers decide to use photos for his/her work. Therefore, it is given the rating above (4-star).

Paintings seem to come to life with color!
I had the honor of taking a workshop from Margaret Kessler in Joseph, Oregon. My eyes were opened to color as never before in my painting career. I purchased two books because I 'used' my first one until it was almost unreadable and I didn't want to be without. I teach painting and find her instructions so easy to pass to my students and easy to see when they finally 'get it'. As someone else said, if you get the book, don't loan it because you won't get it back. It is the best book to learn from, in my opinion. I only wish that she would do another book.

Landscape painting at it's best
I bought this book about 10 years ago and although I have dozens more on landscaping, none can compare with Ms. Kesslers style, colors and textures. I had the privilege of participating in one of Ms. Kessler's seminars at Pocono Pines Pennsylvania several years ago--what a treat! I wish she would write another book.

The best landscape painting book I've seen.
This book is the best I've found for landscape painting. Kessler goes through all the important aspects of good painting including sound composition, depth and atmospheric perspective, color and mood, and many others. Just as importantly, I found the numerous paintings included in the book to be very inspirational. The book is well-written, enjoyable to read, and I would highly recommend for anyone who is interested in landscape painting. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

This book gives the necessary background for the study and appreciation of Italian painting and sculpture from about 1250 to 1550. It tells how the artists learned their craft, the organization of their workshops, and the guilds they belonged to; how their customers or patrons treated them and where their work was displayed-churches, civic buildings, or private homes. The book discusses how art was made-tempera, oil, panel, canvas, fresco; it surveys the characteristic types of Renaissance art-altarpieces, portraits, tombs, busts, doors fountains, medals, etc. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

interesting collection of essays
Over the last 30 years there seems to be a greater interest on the part of art historians in the nuts and bolts issues of how art is created. The works of E.H. Gombrich come to mind, or "The Academy and French Painting in the Nineteenth Century", by Albert Boime. This rather disconnected set of essays by Cole examines the material issues facing the Renaissance artist.

What did paintings cost? How was the artist valued? What expectations surrounded the conception and construction of the work of art? How did the original setting differ from our encounter with these works today? These are some of the questions addressed here. This is not a coffee table book, and the illustrations are low quality black and white (at least in the paper back edition).

Like the other book by Cole that I have read, "Titian and Venetian Painting, 1450-1590", I wish this book was twice as long. Many of the questions touched on here are only given a brief answer, but the information that is here is fascinating. I am not an Art Historian, so I can only guess at the authors reputation (now head of the NEA). My sense is that he is one of those historians with a breadth of knowledge that is quite rare in these days of specialization, and that his viewpoint shows a high degree of originality. My only complaint (aside from the 100 or so color illustrations that could have provided more details) is that the writing style is not as graceful as some of the masters of this genre. ... Read more

Book Description

The first and only book to discuss the entire history of painting by genre, rather than by chronology, this fresh approach gives readers a new and enlightened way to view and understand the language of art through the ages.What was the artist trying to convey? Who are those figures supposed to be? Why do images and symbols recur? This book clearly answers these and other questions that viewers often ponder as they tour museums. Every category of subject matter is studied: religious art, myth and allegories, the nude, history painting, still life, portraiture, landscape, genre, and abstraction. Each chapter has an introduction and illustrated overview of the information to be covered, followed by spreads that trace the development of the featured art. The reader is shown, for instance, how self-portraits were conceived at various times and how techniques evolved; which aspects of still life drew on recurrent traditions and which others altered over time.A prized possession to be acquired by art appreciators for their own personal useor as a thoughtful gift, this volume promises to broaden readers' understanding of all the art movements and major artists' work that form the body of Western art. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A thorough grounding in art appreciation
For all the terrific essays, books, guides, museum publications and primers for the beginning art lover, this generously illustrated, thoughtful book presents one of the most practical and informative manuals on how to look at and truly see paintings. The authors have divided this survey of painting not in the usual hisorical context, but instead they show us the various types of paintings and how to approach them and get the most out of the viewing experience. By selecting categories such as Religious painting, Myth and Allegory, The Nude, History painting, Portraiture, Landscape, Still Life, and even Abstract painting they present samples from across the entire history of Western art, pointing out the hows and whys artists chose and painted each subject. Religious painting, for example, uses examples from Giotto, Tiepolo, Michelangelo, Bosch and Rembrandt to Max Ernst, Dali, Gauguin, Stanley Spencer and Jackson Pollock. By concentraiting on the subject of the painting we are guided into an understanding of the evolution of that type of painting and the result is that we are encouraged to look at every school and every period of history in a refreshed light. The section on landscape shows that the beginnings of this genre can be found in the backgrounds of the medieval frescoes and progresses through various periods until the Landscape itself is the main subject. The many interpretations of myths, allegories, Self Portraits, components of still life paintings are all explored and documented in the most user-friendly way. This book is invaluable for teachers of Art Appreciation, for those people who want to know what to look for when they visit museums, and for artists who want a different slant on the history of composition. The color reproductions are plentiful and of excellent quality. This is a fine addition to the library of art lovers and afficiandos, students and hedonists! A worthwhile investment, and a fine reference book and tool. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive CD-ROM includes all 2,200 works that Van Gogh produced during his career: paintings, drawings, watercolors, letter sketches and juvenilia. Designed for both scholars as well as the general public, this CD-ROM has an intuitive, yet powerful search and query tool for accessing Van Gogh's works.

The database contains high quality images of every single artwork, many reproduced in color for the first time. Each artwork record contains a full physical description, date, location, along with full provenance and exhibition history. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

vincent van gogh, the complete works
this is probably a great cd. however it doesnt run on a mac, so i cant look at it. i dont think this is stated in the information. so if you use a mac dont buy this cd. too bad.

Entertaining AND Educational
I have owned this CD for several months now and have completely enjoyed it. I find this CD to be a useful tool - not only in answering questions I might have but in helping my children do assignments in school. It is very easy to navigate and the pictures are top quality. A very smart addition to any library.

Bravo David Brooks - The Complete Works is Incredible
Outstanding! At first I thought a CDRom would lack the warmth of a book. This CDRom is on fire. What an achievement and what a treasure.

The definitive database for admirers of Van Gogh.
Whether for the newcomer, enthusiast or student, David Brooks's CD-ROM cannot be bettered as an accessible and stimulating resource. Many images - such as the Van Gogh Museum's version of 'Vincent's Bedroom in Arles' - are supported by informative commentary. Where possible, Brooks adds full details of ownership, display and the specific letters in which Van Gogh mentions the painting, drawing or sketch. It is a delight to witness rarely-seen works from private collections and others that previously one had only read about. Added bonuses are the very clear chronology and biography that David Brooks provides. This CD-ROM both broadens and deepens one's knowledge of The Master and is excellent value for money.

MEET VAN GOGH IN A BOOK
I have read above book in Greek and although I have to admit my knowledge concerning art is poor, I was fascinated.

Excellent presentation. Touching writing, real documents from Van Gogh's life. You can spend hours on each page looking at the paintings, the conception of using those thick lines of paint to creat this amazing result.

You meet Van Gogh in this book. You meet the man, the perfection of the artist's and his madness and I'm sure that this madness is to be blamed for the artist's blooming! ... Read more