No comments about Ribbon Culture: Charity, Compassion and Public Awareness.

No comments about Annette Messager: The Messengers.

No comments about Art Therapy, Race and Culture.

1 comments about Monet's Landscapes.

1. Monet's evocative landscapes with their lush and subtle colors, thrilling use of light from various times of the day and the seasons, and varied locations of vantage have rarely been so beautifully presented as in this small but elegant book by Vivian Russell.
   
   Russell has visited many of the sites Monet painted and took photographs not only of the particular subject of his paintings, but also of the surrounding countryside, a fact that adds flavor of place to what must have inspired Monet. Not only does she include the coasts of France and Giverny, Monet's home and famous gardens, but she also traveled to Venice (some of Monet's most ethereal works are from this special haven), Norway, the flower fields of Holland, and the majesty of London.
   
   The photographs are superb and offer interesting information on what Monet decided to edit or to enrich with the impressionist's eye. Russell is a fine writer and her comments and sensitivity to include much information from Monet's letters makes this book not only a perfect coffee table tome, but also a fine adjunct to art students and collectors alike. Highly Recommended! Grady Harp, August 05

5 comments about Sunkissed: Sunwear and the Hollywood Beauty.

1. This book deals with the Sunwear and Hollywood Beauty of the 1930s to the 1950s. That happens to be the subtitle, so it's easy to explain. The book is full of pictures focused on the swimsuit models and pin ups of those years, with such greats as Maureen O'Sullivan, Penny Singleton, Jean Crawford, Betty Gable, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Marlene Dietrich, Dorothy Lamour, Barbara Stanwyck, Karen Randall and much, much more. You'll drool at how sexy the women are. So make sure to put plastic on the book.



2. It's obvious that "Sunkissed" is a labor of love. A nostalgic look at the glamor that was once Hollywood, "Sunkissed" is a trip back in time. The author, Joshua Curtis, captures the essance of the golden age of motion pictures with brilliant color layouts, original photographs and accurate text. This is one of those rare books that should occupy a perminant spot on the shelf because it will never become dated or out of style. A pure joy for any fan of the 1930s and 40s.



3. Great photos, lots of them--my only wish is it went up to 1959 and included more of the 50's. Not many of these beauties look that tan so 'sun kissed' is a good term. If you're looking for a good resource for period bathing suits this is it.



4. This is a book that any classic movie fan will love. It is filled with gorgeous photos of movie stars modeling swimwear. Many of the photos are in color and I have never seen them published anywhere else. Paulette Goddard, Betty Grable, Carole Landis, Gene Tierney, Marie McDonald, and Marilyn Monroe are among the many actresses featured in this terrific book. There is also a nice forward written by Ann Rutherford.



5. This book is full of beautifully restored photo's and insightful commentary. A must have for anyone.

2 comments about The Private Life of a Masterpiece: Uncovering the Forgotten Secrets and Hidden Life Histories of Iconic Works of Art.

1. Author Monica Bohm-Duchen delves into eight famous works of art, and the lives of their creators, for "The Private Life Of A Masterpiece." She explores here the popularity of these masterworks. What has caused them to move so many viewers so deeply? The stories behind their creation and the history of each one, along with corresponding information about their respective artists, are also discussed. Dating from 1501 to 1950, the artworks selected are: Michelangelo's "David"; Leonardo's "Mona Lisa"; Francisco de Goya's "Third of May, 1808," Edouard Manet's "Olympia," Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers," Edvard Munch's "Scream"; and two 20th-century paintings, Pablo Picasso's "Demoiselles d'Avignon" and Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm." In all, there are 150 black and white photographs and 10 line illustrations in this 240 page book - a real gem for any art lover to treasure. The principal commonality in the pieces chosen for the publication, apart from being well known art icons, is that all eight strike resounding chords within viewers worldwide.
   
   Each painting, and the "David," have their own, in-depth biography. Ms. Bohm-Duchen's rich analytical narrative is what makes this volume so special. This is not a dry text at all. As a matter if fact, I found it to be a real page-turner. The author has thoroughly researched every piece, and writes fascinating commentary on their creation. I was especially intrigued by the text documenting the various methods the artists used to prepare and execute their work. Also, of particular interest are the historical art reviews - how the finished masterpieces were received by the public. For example, when Manet's painting "Olympia" was hung in the Salon of Paris in 1865, it was met with jeers, laughter and disdain by art critics, the public, and the newspapers. Manet was rebelling against the art establishment of the time, and Ms. Bohm-Duchen explains that by painting a real woman, a courtesan at that, instead of an idealized version of "woman," and by disregarding the paths forged by the great masters, Manet greatly shocked viewers. Tidbits like these may not be absolutely necessary for an understanding of art, but the wealth of material the author provides certainly enhanced my appreciation and enjoyment.
   
   Beautifully written and presented, I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fine art.
   JANA



2. Monica Bohm-Duchen has taken 8 famous paintings and told me the story of both the artist and the painting with the understanding that there really is no separation between the artist and his or her painting/s. How I hope that she writes a sequel, another sequel, another sequel! (This time I hope she includes women artists.)

   Especially, this book speaks to artists and art lovers. We artists know that each painting is a spirit that is very much alive.

   Unlike most book discussions of great art, Bohm-Duchen's is a page turner and almost a voyeuristic glimpse into the private lives of 8 artists, not so easily gleaned in the retrospectives and other tomes that speak of the art of these famous artists.I got an amazing pictural look at Jackson Pollock and gained a greater respect for his artistic composition and methodolody. I discovered the history of madness of the van Gogh family here and not in literally dozens of other books on van Gogh and his body of work. Every other book merely said Theo, his benefactor and art gallery owner brother, died about six months after van Gogh and never mentioned madness as the cause, or that his youngest brother killed himself at 32 or that his favorite sister, Wil, also spent time committed to a mental asylum.

   Bravo! Every artist and art lover and artist-to-be needs to read this book now. This book is a gift of joy you give yourself and others.

2 comments about Francisco Goya y Lucientes : 1746-1828.

1. This was my introduction to Goya. The great thing about this book (and about all the books in Phaidon's Art & Ideas Series) is that it does an excellent job of putting the artist in historical context. I think this is important, because Goya (like David in France) really is inseparable from his time, and we simply can't understand his images if we don't have any idea about what was going on in Spain and the rest of Europe at the time. "The Disasters of War", for example, means so much more to me now that I understand what happened when Napoleon invaded Spain. I was also glad to see that pictures by some of Goya's contemporaries are included, pictures that would otherwise be pretty hard to find.
   
   Some of the author's interpretations, though, annoyed me. Intellegent readers shouldn't have any problems drawing their own conclusions, but I'm a little more concerned about readers who aren't very good about questioning authors. For example, when talking about "The Second of May 1808" and "The Third of May 1808", Symmons says that the figure stabbing the horse in the first painting is the same man lying dead in the heap of bodies in the second one -- and then she says that repetition of figures like this is a major theme in Goya's works. It is, but apart from the fact that both of these men are wearing green coats, there's no way of saying they are the same man. Maybe Goya said they were, but if he did, the author hasn't pointed that out. Another quirk is the author's search for Goya's sources. I understand that artists borrow motifs from each other every now and then, but when Symmons tries to tie in a couple of Goya's images with political prints by James Gilray, for example, simply because some of Goya's poses (which really aren't that unusual) vaguely resemble some of Gilray's, I think she's going out on an awfully big limb. Maybe Goya did take them from Gilray, but he could have taken them from a thousand other places just as easily, and without more substantial proof of Goya's sources, I just don't see what the author is trying to accomplish. This is a very useful book, but leave room for forming your own opinion about Goya.



2. Janis Tomlinson, the writer of this book, seems primarily concerned in showing that there is a continuity in Goya's work, that it did not suddenly change from light-hearted to dark after Goya went deaf. For the most part, I feel she achieved this end, I for one am convinced. I wish she wrote more on Goya's technique and his personal life, both of which she does not go into much. The 300 or so colour reproductions of Goya's work are excellent, and there are many good close-ups. Unfortunately, Goya produced around 1,800 works, so it is disappointing that only a fraction of them are in this book.

5 comments about Henley: A New York tail.

1. This is a darling book for girls and boys of ALL ages! It was given to my girls as a gift and now we give it as a birthday gift regularly! Cute and a little educational.



2. A story about a very special little dog which should appeal to all ages.. Beautifully told & superbly illustrated.



3. My daughter and I both fell in love with this charming story. Henley and his owner, Lulu are both absolutely fabulous! The artwork and poetic storyline is charming and imaginative. I am planning on stocking up on this wonderful book as Christmas presents for my family.



4. What a darling book about a Japanese Chin and his adventures. The art work is wonderful. Although it is officially a children's book, I appreciate it for the art work and the cute extra details put into the book. If you love dogs you will love this book, especially if you know about the Japanese Chin breed.



5. This is a must-have book to add to your holiday shopping for children of any age. My 6 year old and 3 year old boys have an extreme love for all sort of dogs and instantly fell in love with Henley. We hope Henley and the author will make more journeys together.

2 comments about Master Paintings in The Art Institute of Chicago.

1. The Art Institute of Chicago houses a world-renown collection of artwork that spans the complete and diverse spectrum of six centuries of painting. Now in a revised and expanded second edition, Master Paintings In The Art Institute Of Chicago organizes and showcases 149 major paintings (like the Insitute itself) into European, American, and Twentieth-Century categories. This outstanding introduction to the history of art in general, and the Art Insitute of Chicago's impressive collection in particular, would grace any personal, academic, or community library artbook collection.



2. This is a great coffee table book that includes many important paintings of Art Institute of Chicago. All the images are in color, and the story of each painting and the artist is given. Each painting is described on a single page, and therefore the pictures are sufficiently large and detailed. The book starts with 15th century religious paintings, and progresses to include well known impressionist paintings such as Seurat's Sunday on La Grande Jatte and Renoir's Two sisters. It also has a section on 20th century paintings. Not a substitute to seeing the actual works, but it is close...

2 comments about Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities (Alternate Edition with InfoTrac).

1. As a Humanities teacher I was drafted to teach the Intro class at the last minute at my college. I "inherited" this text. It's a sorry excuse for a textbook. It's full of errors (even in the 5th edition!). Examples: "Egypptians have used hieroglyphics throughout their history." A) "heiroglyphics" is an adjective (the noun is heiroglyphs). And throughout history? Tell it to a modern Egyptian! B) "The Prophet Mohammad married Fatima." I can't begin to describe how offensive this is. Fatima was Mohammad's daughter. Fatima married Ali (they get that wrong, too). C) Throughout, pre-Christian religions are referred to as "pagan." Pagan is a Latin term meaning "redneck." One of the authors is a theologian and should know better: the preferred term among comparitive religionists is "polytheism." Moreover, the overall skew of the book is toward dates, rulers and battles; in other words, the book is better suited to a World Civ class--and a world civ class taught in the 19th century, at that!



2. I love this book. It's beautifully arranged by the ages. Each chapter has a chronological map on Events, Paintings, Architecture and Written Works of the timeline. The illustrations are breathtaking. You not only get Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Leonardo's Mona Lisa and Rembrandts' self portraits, but description, motivation, history and characteristics. I learned that I love Renaissance paintings the most and that Rafael painted images with a triangle arrangement. When we took an exam, I was able to differentiate Greek from Roman statues. I hope your edition comes with the musical CD. In class, we hear Wagner, Beethoven and Bach. This was utilized in my Humanities course with the illustrious Yamilé Quintana, professor of music and humanities at Miami-Dade College. A major treat for me was to find the Chant to The Lord's Prayer. (I'm still practicing it.)