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

1 comments about In Focus: Edward Weston: Photographs From the J. Paul Getty Museum (In Focus).

1. The Getty Museum has been putting out this series of booklets, each on a noted artist or photographer. This item shows many photographs taken, or perhaps more fittingly, composed by Edward Weston. The Getty had amassed originals of many of his best works, only some of which are reproduced here. They were made from 1900-50. Some have a timeless quality. Often imbued with a deliberate haziness in the background.
   
   The text that accompanies the photos provides a short biography of Weston's life, and a context to the photos.

2 comments about Small Spirits: Native American Dolls from the National Museum of the American Indian.

1. This expanded version of a previous publication on Indian dolls from the Heye Foundation collections has beautiful illustrations, and excellent text content. My only wish is that more photographs of the extensive collections at what is now NMAI would have been included, particularly from the Plains areas. I would have opted for a few fewer large format photos in exchange for more smaller ones.



2. Great book for helping to identify lots of Native American dolls from Tierra del Fuego to Pt. Barrow.

3 comments about Kingsgate: The Art of Keith Parkinson.

1. I bought this as a gift and my wife was very pleased. She is a player of Everquest and loves Keith's art!



2. Along with Clyde Caldwell, Larry Elmore, and Jeff Easley, Keith Parkingson completes the "Fab Four" of fantasy artists. To think that all four were on staff at TSR at one time is mind boggling. One can only imagine the creative competition that took place between these four supremely talented artists. Kingsgate from SQP features 128 pages of Parkinson's paintings in full, lush color and printed on heavy stock paper. Bestselling fantasy writer Terry Goodkind provides an introduction to the book. Goodkind is an unabashed fan of Parkinson's who has done the covers to several of his books. Goodkind provides commentary on each cover and offers his unique insight on how the covers were devised. I think my favorite cover that Keith did for the Sword of Truth series was for Naked Empire showing the statue of a powerful warrior, long forgotten in the remote wilderness.
   
   Parksinon's book covers are often enough to sell a book and he's done numerous book, RPG, and computer game covers over the years including one of Polgara, the David Edding's sorceress with her dark hair and trademark white steak, holding an owl in the forest. His fantasy calendars are always in a league of their own. There's a certain magic and myth to his work that's often missing in many artist's work. They seem to tell a story all on their own. Parkinson relates how Blizzard wanted him to do the cover for Diablo II but he was already tied up with other projects. So enamored of his work were they that they basically told him to give them anything as soon as he could and Keith would deliver a stunning painting that would be uses in promotional posters for the game.
   
   Dungeons & Dragons fans will be sure to recognize many paintings from some of their favorite game accessories over the years including his group of skeletal kings in "Gods of Lanhkmar" and the "Temple of Elemental Evil" One of my favorites was always one of the Ravenloft Death Knight, Lord Soth. It's simply a gorgeous book that comes with an index to the paintings. A fitting collection by one of the genre's best artists.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



3. With this second collection of Keith's paintings, we finally have a book worthy of the art it contains. This all new material is a wonderful collection of paintings and renderings of fearsome dragons, hideous creatures, captivating women, and sword-wielding men of valor. Also included are cover paintings for bestselling books by Terry Goodkind and David Eddings, as well as computer game art for EverQuest and Diablo, never-before-seen sketches, colorful commentary by the artist, and a whole lot more. One of the "Fab Four" from the TSR glory years, his work never fails to kindle the imagination and whisk one away to the worlds he creates.
   
   "Magnificent modern fantasy at its finest--sensual, richly colored, imaginative, powerful. He's on our 'A' list of contemporary fantasy painters; his previous book was a bestseller for us." - from the Bud Plant catalog
   
   With the sad news of Keith's recent passing, this will likely be the last collection of new material, but what we have here, we can treasure forever. Rest In Peace Keith, and thank you for sharing your wonderful gift with us.

No comments about Saint Sebastian: Or A Splendid Readiness For Death.

2 comments about Prado.

1. This is an exquisite table top book that you won't want to shelve anytime soon. Lavish in detail the book has 275 paintings that are world famous. The time period covered is the 12th right up through the 20th century. No easy task to get a sampling from the Prado, one of the greatest museums in the world. The author manages just that as he doesn't over emphasive the "known" masters and unveils some of the lesser and even unknown artists.Since the author, Santiago Alcolea Blanch, a renowned art historian, is Spanish, there is a leaning towards the works of the well known Spanish masters like El Greco and Velasquez, right up to the more modern Picasso. This is not to say that it only features Spanish artists as it includes the masters from throughout Europe. Anyone interested in art will love and benefit from this book. There is much to be learned from superb works that have withstood world wars and other atrocities of mankind and been viewed by millions of people. The first paintings revealed are those painted on murals and board, eventually working its way to oil on canvas. Since much of the works from the masters is of a religious nature one will find superb paintings inspired from the divine, mans earliest works as manifested through his interpretations of God and his glory. Marveling at these works leaves no doubt about the everlasting impression this subject matter must have had on the artists. That we would be given the opportunty to view such inspirational works from the comforts of our living rooms is an additional blessing. The works are not limited to religious themes as there are countless portraits of the nobility and loyalty that shaped the world events of their time and even directed the course of history. These were the photographs of their day, long before digital images could be loaded instantly on a computer, only the wealthy could afford such a luxury. The works, as percieved through the eyes of the artist are uncommon and magnificent testimonials of a bygone era. As an additional bonus the book is also a history book. The first 139 pages are a concise explanation of the origins of the Royal Collection and the Academy of Fine Arts. Included in the historical tour are great black and white photographs of the Prado in various time periods, including draft plans for the additions. Each director is profiled in story book fashion to illustrate the achievements and problems encountered during their time as directors. Captivating and informative, the written word in this book is an excellent source of information for the art historian. Follow the trial and tribulations of those most influential in giving the world one of it's greatest museums. For furhter exploration there is also a pretty extensive bibliography. This is a quality book that any lover of art will cherish, highly recommended for those that like the works of the masters.



2. Take a tour of the fabulous Prado museum with this lavishly illustrated volume. Featuring over 300 full page photos, this work reveals the astounding depth of the Prado's collection. The book is arranged by "schools" of nationalities, just as the museum is, and features many of the most classic and cherished paintings Europe has produced from medieval triptychs to Picasso's "Guernica". These aren't the only paintings featured, however. The reader is invited to see the collection longitudinally. I really enjoyed, for example, seeing the wonderful variety of Velasquez' paintings - those he did in the employ of the royal court were markedly different than his early work.

   The book is not just colorplates, though. The first 125 pages give a detailed history of the museum itself, which is very fascinating (especially the travails of the building and the collection during the civil war). There is also included a reprinting of the royal proclamation establishing the museum in 1432.

   The book is published by Abrams' reprint service, but the quality is still exceptional. The colors are beautiful and the binding is very nice and durable as well. Enjoy it!

3 comments about Modigliani: Beyond the Myth (Published in Association with the Jewish Museum, New York).

1. I came along Modigilian's Art druing a drawing class. I purchased a small book at a local bookstore first. I was so impressed over the artist and his paintings that I want to learn more about his work. He is a master painter of the early 20 th century. Some of his figures have a sence of sadeness in there way how they look . Some of the poses are oriented on classic old masters.Describtions are given in the book. Also you will see delightful abstract forms and colors. I really can recomend the book to everyone who wants to learn more about this great artist.
   The book also shows images of drawings and sculptures.



2. There have been many publications on Modigliani lately and also many exhibitions (in Paris, London, NY). This particular book, which is the catalogue for a show at the Jewish Museum, is, in my opinion, the most original one in that it attempts to study the artist setting aside all the rest (that is "the myth"). The beautiful reproductions enable the reader to see what a revolutionary portraitist Modigliani was, even sometimes minimalist (to use a fashionable word). The provenance of the works show that he did have early admirers, and not only among his peers or dealers.



3. I bought this book preparing a visit of an exhibition on paintings as well as my paission in arts, i.e. painting.
   The book is full of pics and enough text about Amadeo.
   Amadeo's paitings are really great...

1 comments about Men of Letters and People of Substance.

1. Men of Letters begins with an elegant series of portraits of literary giants composed solely of typefaces and typographic ornaments. It would seem clever enough that each portrait is illustrated by using only the letters from one specific font which perfectly suits it's subject; but each likeness is also remarkable. The reader sees the individual letters and images of the famous writers simultaneously, like portraits by a modern Archimboldo. In the next part of the book the author creates faces from arrangements of multiple pictograms that reveal specific themes such as Greed or Fear. Anyone who attempts to use the computer creatively will be awed by de Vicq's mastery.
   This a the perfect gift for designers, writers, readers, and students.

No comments about Tal R: The Sum.

No comments about Psycho Buildings: Artists Take On Architecture.