The Story of the World's Greatest Paintings - Charlie Ayers

An introduction for young readers to some of the greatest paintings of all time.

Here are twenty world-famous artworks featured in easy-to-follow chronological order, including: Jan Van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait, Paolo Uccello’s The Battle of San Romano, Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Children’s Games, Jan Vermeer’s The Artist’s Studio, John Constable’s The Hay Wain, Winslow Homer’s Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), Auguste Renoir’s La Loge, Berthe Morisot’s Summer’s Day, Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Paul Cézanne’s Mont Sainte-Victoire, and Paul Gauguin’s Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

All of the works are remarkable paintings with remarkable histories that have been chosen specifically to appeal to a young audience. 
The illustrations include a portrait or self-portrait of each artist, as well as a reproduction of their masterpiece, along with carefully selected details and other paintings by the same artist for comparison.

The entertaining and informative texts give an account of the artists at work, and extended picture captions offer further information. 
Each section is accompanied by a “Why Don’t You?” box suggesting a practical art project; a “Did You Know?” box with extra information; and a “Want to See More?” feature box with useful Web sites. 120 color illustrations

[Book Description Source: www.amazon.com ]  

Ratings
Goodreads Rating - 4.67 out of 5 (6 Ratings, 2 Reviews)

My Rating:  4 out of 5. 


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Indian Art - Partha Mitter

This concise yet lively new survey guides the reader through 5,000 years of Indian art and architecture. 
A rich artistic tradition is fully explored through the Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Colonial, and contemporary periods, incorporating discussion of modern Bangladesh and Pakistan, tribal artists, and the decorative arts.
Combining a clear overview with fascinating detail, Mitter succeeds in bringing to life the true diversity of Indian culture. 
The influence of Islam on the Mughal court, which produced the world-famous Taj Mahal and exquisite miniature paintings, is closely examined.
More recently, he discusses the nationalist and global concerns of contemporary art, including the rise of female artists, the stunning architecture of Charles Correa, and the vibrant art scene. 
 The very particular character of Indian art is set within its cultural and religious milieu, raising important issues about the profound differences between Western and Indian ideas of beauty and eroticism in art.

 [Book Description Source: www.amazon.com]

Goodreads Rating - 3.74 out of 5 (27 Ratings, 1 Review)

My Rating:  4 out of 5. 

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Paintings from Mughal India - Andrew Topsfield

One of the great kingdoms of human history, the Mughal Empire is now lost to the relentless sweep of time. 

But the wealth of treasures left behind offers a lasting testament to the sumptuousness of its culture. 

Among the most notable of these treasures are the lush miniature paintings showing the splendor of Mughal imperial life.
Andrew Topsfield examines these paintings that bear the influence of Indian, Islamic, and Persian styles and portray a variety of subjects, from hunting, royal banquets, and other scenes of imperial life to legends, battles, and mythic deities. 

Among the paintings featured in the book’s vibrant reproductions are illustrations from the celebrated Baharistan manuscript of 1595 and works created between the reign of Akbar and the fall of Shah Jahan in 1658—an era considered to be the height of Mughal art.

A fascinating and gorgeously illustrated study, Paintings from Mughal India will be an invaluable resource for all art scholars and anyone interested in the legacy of the Mughal Empire.
[Source: www.amazon.com]

A unique style of court painting, combining Persian, Indian and European elements, developed in India under the Mughal emperors in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. 
Originally an art of book illustration, it soon gave rise to highly naturalistic portraiture and scenes of court life, among other subjects. 
These elegant and expressive works reflect the splendour of the Mughal empire, as well as the enthusiasm of the emperors from Akbar (1556-1605) onwards for stories of adventure and romance, for the recording of great imperial assemblies, or the meticulous depiction of the flora and fauna of India. 
Among the highlights of the book are the illustrations to Akbar's magnificent Baharistan manuscript of 1595, and the court scenes from the reigns of Shah Jahan (1627-58) or the pleasure-loving Muhammad Shah (1719-48).
This book reproduces many of the finest Mughal and Deccani paintings preserved in the Bodleian Library's rich and historic collection, largely formed between 1640 and 1900. 
These pictures range in date from around 1560 to 1800, when British influence was becoming dominant in India.
Each image is presented as a full page colour plate with facing text describing its subject and significance, while the introduction situates the works within the general context of the period and its art.

[Source: As described in the book cover]

Goodreads Rating - 4.0 out of 5 (4 Ratings)

My Review:
A great sampling of Mughal Paintings. The texts accompanying the paintings were also very informative.
A book for every art lover !

Links:

•  Wikipedia article on Mughal Painting 
• Mughal Painting collection in Bodleian Library, University of Oxford - Paintings in this book are from this collection.

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Art: The Whole Story - Stephen Farthing (General Editor)

There is no society that has lacked art. 
Depiction and decoration , like storytelling and music are natural to human beings as nest building to most birds. 
The forms that art has taken have varied radically in different times and places , under the influence of differing social and cultural circumstances. 
What was the original purpose of these works of art and how can we understand them today ? Why did art flourish in some periods of history and not in others? 
Why are some individual pieces of art so significant?
 If you've ever found yourself transfixed by a Renaissance painting, fascinated by an Inca textile, or filled with wonder by an exquisite piece of Ming porcelain, this is the book for you.

This comprehensive, vibrant book leads you through the world’s iconic images – those that we encounter every time we open a newspaper, visit a gallery, or look at the front cover of a novel.
 Venture inside its pages and discover exactly what the great artistic periods and movements of the world were all about. 

Art: The Whole Story begins with an incisive historical overview that places art in the context of the social and cultural developments that have taken place around the world since pre-state societies. 
Organized chronologically,  the book then traces the evolution of artistic development period by period and movement by movement. 
Illustrated (more than 1100 color illustrations !) in-depth text covers every genre of art, from painting and sculpture to conceptual art and performance art. 
A thorough assessment of the ideas and works of key artists reveals how one artist influenced another and what they were trying to achieve with their work.
 Detailed cultural and individual artist timelines clarify historical context.
 Individual masterpieces that epitomize the defining characteristics of each period or movement are highlighted and analyzed in detail. 
Everything from use of color and visual metaphors to technical innovations and lasting legacy is explained, enabling you to interpret the full meaning of world-famous masterpieces as never before. 
Marvel at the intricacies of Mughal miniatures; learn the significance of Japanese prints in the nineteenth century; understand the science behind the color theories that informed Seurat's remarkable La Grande Jatte; and discover why Picasso's Les Demoiselles D'Avignon was considered to be shocking in its day. 
 Written by an experienced international team of artists, art historians and curators, this absorbing and beautiful book gives you priceless insights into the worlds most iconic images. 
Since the earliest prehistoric sculptures and cave paintings, humankind has felt compelled to record its creative impulses. 
Today, the urge to draw,paint, print and sculpt is more apparent than ever, and continues to inform who we are and how we live.
 If you love art and would like to understand it better, look no further than the pages of Art: The Whole Story. 
 [Based on the book description available at Amazon.com and  on the book jacket]

'His prose is easy and flowing, not a word is wasted, and everything is seen in precise and daylight-clear shape.' His Style impresses itself on the reader's mind as expressive of a calm conviction, unmixed with emotion.

Unlike earlier foreign biographers of Ramakrishna-Max Muller and Remain Rolland-Isherwood did not write of him as a distant admirer, but as a devotee who enjoyed an advantage over them; for he had at his disposal more material, collected through a careful Study of not only Ramakrishna literature, but also Hindu Religion and philosophy, besides two visits to India. - See more at: http://www.printsasia.in/book/ramakrishna-and-his-disciples-christopher-isherwood-8185301182-9788185301181#sthash.Z4N9VklV.dpuf

'His prose is easy and flowing, not a word is wasted, and everything is seen in precise and daylight-clear shape.' His Style impresses itself on the reader's mind as expressive of a calm conviction, unmixed with emotion.

Unlike earlier foreign biographers of Ramakrishna-Max Muller and Remain Rolland-Isherwood did not write of him as a distant admirer, but as a devotee who enjoyed an advantage over them; for he had at his disposal more material, collected through a careful Study of not only Ramakrishna literature, but also Hindu Religion and philosophy, besides two visits to India. - See more at: http://www.printsasia.in/book/ramakrishna-and-his-disciples-christopher-isherwood-8185301182-9788185301181#sthash.Z4N9VklV.dpuf

'His prose is easy and flowing, not a word is wasted, and everything is seen in precise and daylight-clear shape.' His Style impresses itself on the reader's mind as expressive of a calm conviction, unmixed with emotion.
Unlike earlier foreign biographers of Ramakrishna-Max Muller and Remain Rolland-Isherwood did not write of him as a distant admirer, but as a devotee who enjoyed an advantage over them; for he had at his disposal more material, collected through a careful Study of not only Ramakrishna literature, but also Hindu Religion and philosophy, besides two visits to India. - See more at: http://www.printsasia.in/book/ramakrishna-and-his-disciples-christopher-isherwood-8185301182-9788185301181#sthash.Z4N9VklV.dpuf

 My Comments:
Fully agree with the above book description. Closely examining each illustration was an experience by itself. Wonder how marvelous it would be to see the artistic pieces in real life.
Fairly decent coverage of Indian Art (most art books focus only on Western Art), though it would have been better if great Indian artists like Tagore, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher Gill, Raja Ravi Varma, MF Hussain etc. had got a mention at least. 

Goodreads Rating - 4.46 out of 5 ( 61 Ratings)

   

The Art of India by Nigel Cawthorne

Book Synopsis  (inside cover description) 
---------------------------
The diverse art of the Indian subcontinent spans many centuries and a variety of styles.  
The Art of India is an account of the major movements that have influenced and affected the face of India since ancient times. 
The book covers Hindu art from the temples and literature of one of the world's oldest religions, the rise of sculpture and monumental art from the Mauryan Dynasty, Buddhist shrines and Janism, the Mughals, and Islamic art. 
With a collection of more than sixty spectacular pictures, The Art of India illustrates the major works, whether expressed in paint, clay, wood, metal, stone, or brick, that characterize the art of one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
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 My Comments: 
A  light-weight (90 odd pages) coffee table book with several full-page pictures. A fairly good introduction to the art of India.
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Goodreads Rating - 4.17 out of 5 ( 6 Ratings)

 
 

A Brief History of Painting

Author: Roy Bolton
Published: 2006
Publisher: Magpie Books

This is a sort of guidebook on 4000 years of paintings (mainly of the Western World) written by an art expert associated with Christie's.
It is a very good introduction to the history of paintings.

The book begins with an introductory essay called "The Inner Life of Painting" by Matthew Collings (an art critic). Here he gives tips on how to develop an appreciation for a painting.

This is followed by eight chapters covering - the paintings of the ancient world, the Italian Renaissance, the Northern Europe Renaissance, paintings of the seventeenth century, Rococo and Neo-Classicism, Romanticism and Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism and Post Impressionism, Modernisn and the Contemporary Art.150 representative paintings are selected from different traditions and arranged chronologically in these chapters.

Each chapter has a summary at the beginning which describes how some of the historical events influenced the art of some well-known artists of that period.
The paintings selected as representative samples are mostly shown as full-page photographs on the odd numbered page (right page of an open book). They are accompanied by a brief guide to the painting and a short biography of the artist on the even numbered page (left page of the open book). Such an arrangement makes it easy for the reader to examine the painting while he reads the accompanying guide. However I wish the size of the book was slightly larger (this was a pocket-size edition) so that the details of the paintings were more visible.

After these chapters there is a pictorial timeline which locates artists and art movements in relation to one another in time. The book concludes with recommendations for further readings and a glossary which explains art terms and art movements.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested to develop appreciation of paintings.

I had borrowed this book from the British Library, and while reading it I discovered to my horror that some pages had been torn off, obviously by the previous borrower (s). I wonder how people who have an aesthetic sense in art stoop down to such deplorable acts. This clearly demonstrates their lack of aesthetic sense as far as their morals and ethics are concerned.