5 comments about Nicholas and Alexandra.

1. For those who love reading about the Romanov's, Nicholas and Alexandra: The Last Imperial Family of Tsarist Russia is one of the most beautiful and thrilling books available. This book was originally compiled as the exhibition catalog for the prestigious Nicholas and Alexandra Exhibit put on by the Broughton Company in Wilmington, Delaware. This 408 page tabletop book, is filled with incredible photos (most in color) of the close to 700 imperial items that were on display from the State Hermitage Museum and the State Archive of the Russian Federation.
   
   Nicholas and Alexandra contains fabulous paintings, letters, gowns, diaries, photos, icons, Faberge' eggs, frames, jewelry, dishes, sculptures, flags, uniforms, military decorations, weapons, porcelain, toys, and gifts given to the royal family. It also includes a reproduction of Nicholas' library in the Winter Palace, as well as Tsarina Alexandra's grand piano, the throne from the Winter Palace and the coronation carriage originally designed for Empress Catherine II . The paintings of the royal wedding and Nicholas' coronation are especially impressive, while photos of items from their murder will leave you with a lump in your throat.
   
   While this book is short on giving any kind of in-depth history about the Romanov family, it goes a long way in showing just how they lived. It's amazing to look at the dresses and uniforms and to realize that for positions larger than life, the Tsar and Tsarina were actually very small people. Nicholas was a rather short man at approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall. More than anything, you get a glimpse of the tragedy of their fates and the things they gave up because of Nicholas' misguided leadership. No wonder this story still haunts us--even after 87 years.



2. First time I saw this book, I wasn't very interested. But I bought it anyway because it was on sale, and I like to have everything Romanov. But as it turned out, it grew on me like a fungus. Now it is one of my treasures, I look through it often, it is so full of pictures of artifacts you won't see in any other Romanov book and it thus gives color to a world that is otherwise in black and white. Pictures of the members of the extended family were also fascinating and also got me interested in them, though NAOTMAA are still my favorites. What a pity I didn't get to see the exhibition, but this book is I think as close as you'll ever get to the real thing, unless you get the chance to see the palaces.



3. This book was a wonderful glimps into a time and place that no longer exist. Full of personal photos, notes to each other, and other momentos of the Last imperial family with translations of the words of the notes, and plenty of full color plates.

   Opening this book was almost like stepping into a museum dedicated to the last tsar of Russia and his family. Another great addition to any personal library.




4. If you know nothing of Nicholas and Alexandra, this is not the book to buy. However, if the Romanovs already captivate you, you will be captivated by this book. The work catalogs many of the imperial family's possessions. The color photographs are stunning; I was particularly moved by the photo of the tsarevich's teddy bear. Such an intimate glimpse makes these people all too "real" (and, hence, their merciless slaughter all the more appalling). The book features the Romonov's ornate palaces, family and studio photographs, clothing, and much more. For the price, one cannot find a better photographic chronicle of the last Romanovs.



5. ...this thing is FULL of photographs...OTMA's childhood drawings, court gowns, letters, diaries...a wonderful opportunity to get 'close' to the Romanovs and the tumultuous times in which they lived and died.

2 comments about Matthias Weischer: Malerei.

1. I must said that this book is one of the best books I've ever seen.. the design is awesome, the images are perfectly clean.. it contains many details of Weischer's work and technique.. The size of the pictures is very good and besides you can truly apreciate he is an EXCELLENT PAINTER. I really recommend it, get it NOW!! I will attach some pictures of the book for you to look inside of it (if possible)



2. M. Weischer is one of the best contemporary painters out there and this book is superbly produced! Color is excellent as well as great design!!! Best artist catalogue I've seen!!

No comments about Getting Emotional.

No comments about Historic Ranches of Texas.

No comments about Red Aside: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg Collection.

No comments about Fields of Vision: The Photographs of Russell Lee: The Library of Congress (Fields of Vision).

1 comments about Barnett Newman: A Catalogue Raisonne.

1. The most surprising thing about Newman's output is how non-prolific he was,118 works on canvas in 25 years.Every painting is reproduced in superb color.The only detriment is that half a dozen of his large horizontal paintings are spread across the centrespread,spoiling the composition.Using fold out pages would have been more useful.It also includes his drawings,graphics and sculpture,comprising of 329 works in all.No text accompanies the reproductions,letting the work stand on it's own.If you admire Newman's work,buy this magnificent book.It is one of finest catalogue raisonne ever produced.

No comments about Goya's Last Works.

No comments about Conservation at the Art Institute of Chicago (Museum Studies (Art Institute of Chicago)).

2 comments about Tiki Art Two: The Second Coming of a New Art God.

1. This 112 page 8x10" book is a nice collection of a wide range of modern-day tiki-influenced art. Roughly 16 artists splay out a nice array of styles and moods. What I like about the tiki art form is that it lends itself very much to being playful, or dark, or both at times, which is wonderful, and this collection captures that range.
   Not owning the first volume of this kind, I noticed that curator Otto mentions that he has more work by fewer artists in this one, which is intriguing, because you'll find that there are only 2-3 pieces per artist in this volume.. I'm wondering if the previous had twice the artists with one piece apiece! All the same, being a devoted, manic tiki fan, I can find absolutely no fault in this collection, except one person's work was a bit.. flat & unimaginative, and another's pointed towards psychedelic graffiti-style, but all the rest were absolutely captivating, so how could one complain?!?
   And in what I wouldn't even call a complaint, I'll say that I wish it had 200 more pages! 79 pages of art, 33 of words and wallpaper.. I would pay commensurately for another hundred or so of examples!
   So, overall, worth every penny. I wish local booksellers would have the other volumes, so I could peruse, but I will probably take the risk and dive into the others, based on the quality of this book. I'm sure now that curator von Stroheim & crew have sufficient taste to deliver many more successes. Thanks be for this collection; would strongly recommend to the Tiki-enchanted out there!



2. For those of you who enjoyed "Tiki Art Now!", this redux book by Otto Von Stroheim is an impressive, if not better performance of art, than his first book. "Tiki Art Two" is different from "Tiki Art Now" in that it is set up in chapters of various artists, showing multiple pages of works by each one.
   
   The foreward by Jeffrey Vallance gives a background to the Polynesian Pop culture and to where its roots can be traced. Following, the introduction by Otto Von Stroheim helps explain the origins of the Tiki Art genre and how it is a fixed art form of American Folklore.
   
   The artwork itself is as spectacular as it was in the first book, and yet in my opinion, seems to be more targeted at the "tiki bar" style of art that most of us, who are not experts in the tiki art form, know and love of the Tiki Style.