5 comments about Spectrum 1: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art.

1. If you are a serious fan of art of the fantastic, this is a must! I have become a collector of this series and each year I look forward to get each publication on hardcover if I can. Don't even think about it. Just get it.



2. I love art books and I want to collect all of the spectrum books. When I got this, I was sooo happy! I can't stop looking through it. It's inspiring and I can't wait to buy the rest of the series! Very vivid art!



3. Anybody who is interested in Sci-Fi or Fantasy artwork should be a big fan of this series. Spectrum 1 is actually a reprint of the original. The reason that I won't give it 5 stars is that since this was the first, it's format is that of a directory of illustrators. For an even better experience, pick up books 9-11, they're worth the cost.
   
   Panda



4. This book is totally weird. The pictures have nothing to do with
   anything. I was not inspired, my mother in law, an accomplished
   painter, saw nothing of interest. Check this book out carefully before
   you buy it, because it may not be what your looking for



5. These are truly spectacular collections: I have most of them and this is my favorite. Always count on finding many works that are stunning, breathtaking and thought-provoking. Potential buyers should be aware that there is usually some nudity and sexuality, and a few of the pictures in any collection will horrific or even grotesque. It is hard to imagine a better buy in representational art for an extremely varied collection of gorgeous, powerful, witty and clever works.

No comments about A Companion to Museum Studies (Blackwell Companions in Cultural Studies).

1 comments about Paris in the Age of Impressionism: Masterworks from the Musee D'Orsay.

1. This book does not have much in the way of artwork from the D')rsay - it is mostly full of architectural drawings. I sent it back. Such a shame, there is so much great art in the D'Orsay. I will never buy a book again, unless I can look inside, or if a friend ahs recommended it.

1 comments about The Color of Life: Polychromy in Sculpture from Antiquity to the Present.

1. The Color of Life is a good surprise. An enjoyable and educational book that I find quite inspiring. Ancient and contemporary works of art with polychromy. The quality of the photography is excellent. But the most impressive aspect is the selection of unique sculpts.

No comments about New York Festivals 16 (New York Festivals).

3 comments about Costume Jewelry for Haute Couture.

1. I haven't finished reading this book but the images of jewelry are beautiful and inspiring.



2. I've been keeping an eye on 'high fashion' for 25+ years as my own one-of-a-kind bead & jewelry business evolved. I could never figure out why some of the very unusual and creative jewelry I saw in couture and pret-a-porte' runway shows was rarely covered in detail in the fashion books or magazines. Finally this book was created to begin answering my prayers! Bravo - I love it, get lost in it!
   While I love all kinds of jewelry, I'd gotten my fill of the books featuring more traditional gold/diamond-type jewelry! If you like the more unusual side of the universe, then you will treasure this book.... and I say all of this before I've even studied the text!
   I hope publishers will pay attention and give us more, more, more! This is the tip of the iceberg and I'm delighted.



3. Expertly co-authored by fashion historian and consultant Florence Muller and haute couture costume jewelry collector Patrick Sigal, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" is a profusely illustrated compendium showcasing dazzling, one-of-a-kind jewelry designed by skilled artisans to complement and adorn individual couture pieces for fashion shows and photo shoots. Representing outstanding examples from Coco Chanle in the 1920s to Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s, to the creation of Lanvin today, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" highlights some of the greatest jewelry creations by some of the greatest artists the fashion industry has every known, including examples by Balenciaga, Diro, Schiaparelli, Givench, Vionnet, and so many others. Beautiful and informative, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Art History, Fashion History, and Jewelry reference collections.

3 comments about National Gallery of Art: Master Paintings from the Collection.

1. My mother was so pleased to receive this as a gift. She was impressed with the quality of the prints. She said she would get hours of enjoyment out of it.



2. I purchased the earlier book by John Walker very inexpensively (used) and was disappointed to recieve it musty and in bad condition. Nevertheless I found the book enjoyable enough to throw that one away and try again with this edition at a much greater price. It was worth every penny spent on both. The selection of works displayed and the quality of the illustrations are both excellent. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that many of the illustrations are half page in size even though the entire page is devoted to them - to waste so much space instead of making the illustrations larger is sinful.



3. This book presents a survey of paintings in the National Gallery, Washington DC. It more or less replaces the old volume written by the late John Walker, the former director of the institution. That book was out of date and didn't include paintings which have been acquired over the last several years. The new book brings the gallery's holdings up to date. The reproductions are very good (but not great) and the commentary is better than average. Unlike the Walker book, this book is a bit more selective and doesn't try to include the kitchen sink. My major complaint is that the book is a bit thin when it comes to the museum's superb early Italian paintings. There is also too much space devoted to what is essentially contemporary work which has not truly stood the test of time. For example, 10 pages (!) are devoted to the dull Barnett Newman. Another problem is that the book doesn't discuss the condition of the artwork. I'll wager that many of the paintings reproduced in this book which look virtually brand new are in fact heavily restored and "touched up" by the gallery's conservation department.

No comments about The Revolution Continues: New Art From China.

No comments about The Education of an Art Director.

2 comments about Noble Hounds and Dear Companions: The Royal Photograph Collection.

1. Loved the pictures and explanations of all the family members and their dogs. Very interesting book. I enjoyed finding out about the varioues nobility and how they saw dogs, how important dogs were to some of them. Loved the beautiful pics too.



2. I have long been an admirer of the British Monarchy, for over. I remember skipping school to watch Princess Anne get married. (The first time in the early 70s)
   
   I've known they were animal lovers but this book just shows you how much they cared for their furry friends. I am a dog lover to the max, and this book was just so fascinating.