Andrew Graham-Dixon

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio lived the darkest and most dangerous life of any of the great painters. The worlds of Milan, Rome, and, Naples through which Caravaggio moved and which Andrew Graham-Dixon describes brilliantly in this book, are thos e of cardinals and whores, prayer and violence. On the streets surrounding the churches and palaces, brawls and swordfights were regular occurrences. In one such fight, Caravaggio killed Ranuccio Tomassoni, a pimp, and fled to Naples and then Malta, home to the Knights of St John, where he escaped from prison following his conviction for another vicious assault. Shortly afterwards he died while returning to Rome to seek a papal pardon for his crimes. He was thirty-eight years old. In the course of this desperate life, Caravaggio created the most dramatic paintings of his age, using ordinary men and women - often prostitutes and the very poor - to model for his depictions of classic religious scenes. Andrew Graham-Dixon's exceptionally illum inating readings of Caravaggio's pictures, which are the heart of the book, show very clearly how he created their drama, immediacy and humanity, and how completely he departed from the conventions of his time.

Zveme vás na pozoruhodnou výpravu za uměním celého světa, při níž si můžete prohlédnout dva a půl tisíce mistrovských výtvarných děl, od jeskynních maleb po moderní malířství a sochařství. Díla jsou prezentována v chronologickém sledu a v graficky poutavé formě, takže dobře dokumentují vývoj výtvarného umění. Kromě nich zde najdete profily sedmi set nejvýznamnějších umělců a podrobné, fundované rozbory klíčových děl vám přiblíží jejich vize a techniky. Umění je jedinečná a rozlehlá galerie, kterou si můžete vzít domů – užitečná příručka a výpravná publikace zároveň.

Discover the history of art movements from classical Greek art to the Italian Renaissance, the Pre-Raphaelites, and the masters of Impressionism with a brand new edition of this classic bestseller. Truly comprehensive in scope, Art shows you masterpieces from over 700 artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, and Van Gogh. An invaluable reference book for any art lover, it showcases the works; everything from Italian baroque painting and African art to contemporary art history. Discover key facts about the most prominent artistic movements, including their origins and influences, and follow a timeline of the most famous works. Be inspired by the detail of each subject matter and methods each artist used to create their masterpieces, and explore centuries, cultures, and countries on the ultimate artistic journey across time. Created in collaboration with Bridgeman, the biggest art library in the world, Art: The Definitive Visual Guide is a must-have for your bookshelf.

An original and breathtakingly beautiful perspective on how art developed through the ages, this book reveals how new materials and techniques inspired artists to create their greatest works. The Story of Painting will completely transform your understanding and enjoyment of art. Covering a comprehensive array of topics, from the first pigments and frescos to linear perspective in Renaissance paintings, the influence of photography, Impressionism, and the birth of modern art, it follows each step in the evolution of painting over the last 25,000 years, from the first cave paintings to the abstract works of the last 100 years. Packed with lavish colour reproductions of paintings and photographs of artists at work and the materials they used, it delves into the key paintings from each period to analyse the techniques and secrets of the great masters in detail. Immerse yourself in the pages of this stunning book and find yourself dazzled by new colours; marvel at the magic of perspective; wonder at glowing depictions of fabric and flesh; understand cubism; and embrace abstraction. You will look at paintings in a whole new light.

The ultimate introduction to global art, presenting 30,000 years of creativity in one lavishly illustrated book. Discover all you need to know about art history in this definite guide. Art: The Definitive Visual Guide brings a gallery of more than 2,500 of the world's finest paintings and sculptures into your home.Spanning 30,000 years, from cave paintings to contemporary art, this stunning chronological exploration of every major artistic movement introduces the major milestones of each period, from the tomb paintings of Ancient Egypt, Qing Dynasty Chinese art, through to 20th century Cubism and African art today. Dedicated spreads explain how art works, for example introducing how artists use colour and composition. A visual timeline of key works gives an overview of the scope of each major movement, and each era and art movement is introduced with key information, placing art in the context of its time.Explore the pages of this awe-inspiring art history book to discover: Over 2500 of the world's most influential paintings and sculptures. Stunning artwork from more than 700 artists. 'Closer Look' sections offer detailed analysis of key paintings. Picture-packed gallery spreads explore how different artists have approached a range of themes. Stunning DPS images presenting important works of art. Genre/theme spreads broaden the coverage of art across the world. The 6 core chapters are structured chronologically, starting with prehistoric art and ancient civilizations, right the way up until modern day artwork, so there's something for everyone to explore, learn and love. From Romanticism in the 19th Century, to Realisim in the 20th Century, whether it's Pop Art or Expressionism, Minimalism and so much more - the beautiful full-color illustrations and striking imagery, make this art book the perfect gift for the art and history lover in your life, as well as an ideal coffee table book. Doubling up as a riveting reference book for anyone with an interest in art history who wants to gain a broader knowledge of the subject, as well as the perfect classroom companion in schools, libraries and more, Art: The Definitive Visual Guide is a must-have for your bookshelf. Created in collaboration with Bridgeman, the biggest art library in the world, Art: The Definitive Visual Guide is a must-have for your bookshelf.