Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way

Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way PDF Author: John Nici
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442249552
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 331

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Book Description
In a world filled with great museums and great paintings, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is the reigning queen. Her portrait rules over a carefully designed salon, one that was made especially for her in a museum that may seem intended for no other purpose than to showcase her virtues. What has made this portrait so renowned, commanding such adoration? And what of other works of art that continue to enthrall spectators: What makes the Great Sphinx so great? Why do iterations of The Scream and American Gothic permeate nearly all aspects of popular culture? Is it because of the mastery of the artists who created them? Or can something else account for their popularity? In Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way, John B. Nici looks at twenty well-known paintings, sculptures, and photographs that have left lasting impressions on the general public. As Nici notes, there are many reasons why works of art become famous; few have anything to do with quality. The author explains why the reputations of some creations have grown over the years, some disproportionate to their artistic value. Written in a style that is both entertaining and informative, this book explains how fame is achieved, and ultimately how a work either retains that fame, or passes from the public consciousness. From ancient artifacts to a can of soup, this book raises the question: Did the talent to promote and publicize a work exceed the skills employed to create that object of worship? Or are some masterpieces truly worth the admiration they receive? The creations covered in this book include the Tomb of Tutankhamun, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, El Greco’s The Burial of Count Orgaz, Rodin’s The Thinker, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and Picasso’s Guernica. Featuring more than sixty images, including color reproductions, Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered if a great painting, sculpture, or photograph, really deserves to be called “great.”

Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way

Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way PDF Author: John Nici
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442249552
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 331

Get Book Here

Book Description
In a world filled with great museums and great paintings, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is the reigning queen. Her portrait rules over a carefully designed salon, one that was made especially for her in a museum that may seem intended for no other purpose than to showcase her virtues. What has made this portrait so renowned, commanding such adoration? And what of other works of art that continue to enthrall spectators: What makes the Great Sphinx so great? Why do iterations of The Scream and American Gothic permeate nearly all aspects of popular culture? Is it because of the mastery of the artists who created them? Or can something else account for their popularity? In Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way, John B. Nici looks at twenty well-known paintings, sculptures, and photographs that have left lasting impressions on the general public. As Nici notes, there are many reasons why works of art become famous; few have anything to do with quality. The author explains why the reputations of some creations have grown over the years, some disproportionate to their artistic value. Written in a style that is both entertaining and informative, this book explains how fame is achieved, and ultimately how a work either retains that fame, or passes from the public consciousness. From ancient artifacts to a can of soup, this book raises the question: Did the talent to promote and publicize a work exceed the skills employed to create that object of worship? Or are some masterpieces truly worth the admiration they receive? The creations covered in this book include the Tomb of Tutankhamun, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, El Greco’s The Burial of Count Orgaz, Rodin’s The Thinker, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and Picasso’s Guernica. Featuring more than sixty images, including color reproductions, Famous Works of Art—And How They Got That Way will appeal to anyone who has ever wondered if a great painting, sculpture, or photograph, really deserves to be called “great.”

The Secrets of Art

The Secrets of Art PDF Author: Debra N. Mancoff
Publisher: White Lion Publishing
ISBN: 0711248745
Category : ART
Languages : en
Pages : 242

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Book Description
Discover the secrets, mysteries, hidden meanings and stories behind famous works of art. A book full of surprises, discoveries, forgotten treasures and lost tales, The Secrets of Art takes us on a journey through the art world’s mysteries to reveal that works of art are not always what they seem. A long-lost medieval masterpiece unearthed in the Tower of London. A secret message that only an elite few can read encoded in a painting. A glimpse of a ghostly image beneath the surface of a portrait. The intriguing stories of these works, and many more, are brought to life by author, historian and art detective Debra N. Mancoff, as she reveals secret symbols used by Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer and Caravaggio, uncovers layers of meaning in paintings by Van Gogh, Picasso and Dali, and provides insight into works by Frida Kahlo, Kara Walker and Marina Abramović. Drawing upon the findings of advanced technology, new research, scientific analysis and old-fashioned curiosity, The Secrets of Art unveils the layers of meaning beneath the surfaces of great works of art in a collection of tales that are fully based in fact but are as fascinating as fiction.

We're All Works of Art

We're All Works of Art PDF Author: Mark Sperring
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
ISBN: 9781423649892
Category : JUVENILE NONFICTION
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
There is no single masterpiece in art galleries or with people—we’re all works of art in our own special way! Our skin tones might all vary; we're every shade and hue. Some people think we look surreal, and frankly, yes, we do! But we can make you tilt your head, and see the world anew. Pairing bright and engaging illustrations with relatable rhymes, this beautiful hardbound book celebrates diversity while teaching kids about different styles of art: from prehistoric cave art to surrealism, cubism, pop art, and contemporary art. Includes an appendix that provides brief descriptions of different art styles along with mentions of their most significant works and practitioners to encourage further exploration, including: Stonehenge the bust of Nefertiti Leonardo da Vinci Henri Matisse Joan Miró Rene Magritte Roy Lichtenstein Pauline Boty Rachel Whiteread Steve McQueen Lexile: AD490L

100 Works of Art That Will Define Our Age

100 Works of Art That Will Define Our Age PDF Author: Kelly Grovier
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 050023907X
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Bold and engaging predictions of which artists and artworks from the past two decades will endure through their power to question, provoke, and inspire Just as Picasso’s Guernica or Gericault’s Raft of the Medusa survive as powerful cultural documents of their time, there will be works from our own era that will endure for generations to come. Kelly Grovier curates a compelling list of one hundred paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, performances, and video pieces that have made the greatest impact from 1989 to the present. The global cast includes Marina Abramovic , Matthew Barney, Christian Boltanski, Louise Bourgeois, Maurizio Cattelan, Marlene Dumas, Olafur Eliasson, Andreas Gursky, Cristina Iglesias, On Kawara, Jeff Koons, Ernesto Neto, Gerhard Richter, Pipilotti Rist, Kara Walker, and Ai Weiwei. Many of the pieces reflect the cultural upheavals of recent times, from the collapse of the Berlin Wall to the blossoming of the Arab Spring. A daring yet convincing analysis of which artworks best capture the zeitgeist of our time, Grovier’s list also provides a much-needed map through the landscape of contemporary art. Illustrations of key works are supplemented by comparative images, and short texts offer a biography of each artwork, tracing its inception and impact, and offering a view not only into the imagination of the artist but into the age in which we live.

The Art of Heikala

The Art of Heikala PDF Author: Heikala
Publisher: 3dtotal Publishing
ISBN: 9781909414815
Category : Illustrators
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description
This exquisitely presented hardback art book showcases the finest works and helpful thoughts of popular Finnish artist, Heikala.

W. Cullen Hart Collected Works

W. Cullen Hart Collected Works PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780692794081
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
A curated collection of artwork spanning over 30 years by the American artist, W. Cullen Hart. Hardcover, 160 pages, full color throughout.

The Fifth House of the Heart

The Fifth House of the Heart PDF Author: Ben Tripp
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1476782644
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
Filled with characters as menacing as they are memorable, this chilling twist on vampire fiction packs a punch in the bestselling tradition of ’Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. Asmodeus “Sax” Saxon-Tang, a vainglorious and well-established antiques dealer, has made a fortune over many years by globetrotting for the finest lost objects in the world. Only Sax knows the true secret to his success: at certain points of his life, he’s killed vampires for their priceless hoards of treasure. But now Sax’s past actions are quite literally coming back to haunt him, and the lives of those he holds most dear are in mortal danger. To counter this unnatural threat, and with the blessing of the Holy Roman Church, a cowardly but cunning Sax must travel across Europe in pursuit of incalculable evil—and immeasurable wealth—with a ragtag team of mercenaries and vampire killers to hunt a terrifying, ageless monster…one who is hunting Sax in turn. From author Ben Tripp, whose first horror novel Rise Again “raises the stakes so high that the book becomes nearly impossible to put down” (Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother), The Fifth House of the Heart is a powerful story that will haunt you long after its final pages.

Pop Art

Pop Art PDF Author: Gary Van Wyk
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 3791348450
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The most important and best-loved artists of the Pop art movement are gathered in this accessible book of painting, photography, film, and sculpture. When it emerged in the 1950s, the Pop art movement presented a challenge to fine art with its incorporation of images from television, newspapers, and advertising, dissolving the barriers between high and low culture. Over time, Pop developed into one of the most influential movements of the 20th century and many of its works have achieved iconic status. This introduction to Pop art focuses on 50 of the movement’s most important works and covers every major artist associated with the style, including David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol. Each work is featured on a beautifully illustrated spread. An informative text highlights the work’s classic characteristics, its unusual aspects, and its significance in the Pop movement. Including brief biographies of the artists, this book is a beautifully illustrated survey of Pop art.

Greatest Works of Art of Western Civilization

Greatest Works of Art of Western Civilization PDF Author: Thomas Hoving
Publisher: Artisan Publishers
ISBN: 9781885183538
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 271

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Book Description
A former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York chooses the 111 works of art--culled from the entire history of Western civilization--that have influenced him most, reproduced in full-color and complemented by his interpretations. Tour.

The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss

The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss PDF Author: Audrey Geisel
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0679434488
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 100

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Book Description
These fabulous, whimsical paintings, created for his own pleasure and never shown to the public, show Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) in a whole new light. Depicting outlandish creatures in otherworldly settings, the paintings use a dazzling rainbow of hues not seen in the primary-color palette of his books for children, and exhibit a sophisticated and often quite unrestrained side of the artist. 65 color illustrations.