New Art Books / Videos
Compiled By RAYMOND J. STEINER
ART TIMES May, 2006

ABBEVILLE PRESS: Artists’ Self-Portraits by Omar Calabrese. 392 pp.; 11 ¼ x 13 ¼; 345 Color Illus.; Notes; Bibliography; Index of Names. $135.00 Hardcover. Beautifully illustrated and handsomely produced, Artist’s Self-Portraits offers up a feast of portraits that cover practically the whole range of western masters. A gorgeous addition to any library. ***** Michelangelo: The Vatican Frescoes by Pierluigi de Vecchi and Gianluigi Colalucci (Photography by Takashi Okamura). 272 pp.; 10 ¼ x 12 ¼; 384 Color Illus.; Bibliography; Index. $85.00 Hardcover. Controversial ever since it was completed in 1994, the restoration of Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel is here fully presented in 250 full-color photographs. Includes not only commentary on each of the artist’s scenes, but the arguments for and methods of restoration employed. A visual feast of illustrations accompanies this comprehensive presentation. *****

YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS: Warriors of the Himalayas: Rediscovering the Arms and Armor of Tibet by Donald J. LaRocca et al. 320 pp.; 10 x 11; 295 Illus., 210 in Color; Appendices; Bibliography; Index. $75.00 Hardcover. The accompanying catalogue to an exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC ((thru Jul 2), Warriors of the Himalayas presents the less publicized side of the Buddhist culture of Tibet. Lavishly illustrated with excellent reproductions, the book presents a dizzying array of artifacts that range from the 13^th to the 20^th Centuries. Scholarly and comprehensive. *****
Olmec Art and Archaeology in Mesoamerica (Eds. John E. Clark and Mary E. Pye. 344 pp.; 9 x 11; Notes. $40.00 Softcover. Published for the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., this volume presents and explores the art of the Olmec, including the latest archaeological finds that have been recently unearthed. Comprehensive in its providing a thorough understanding of the history of this ancient Mesoamerican culture. Includes maps and many B/W illustrations. ****
Painting Summer in New England by Trevor Fairbrother. 134 pp.; 10 ¼ x 11 ¼; 101 Illus., 97 in Color; Checklist of Exhibition; Selected Bibliography. $39.95 Hardcover. Some 80 artists, from Sargent to Homer and from Hopper to Hartley, present their various and unique view of New England summers. Published to coincide with an exhibition on view at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA (thru Sep 4), Painting Summer in New England offers up a delightful pot-pourri of images as seen by both past and modern masters. A delight to browse. ****
The Lure of the Object by Stephen Melville. 219 pp.; 7 x 9 ½; B/W Illus.; Afterword. $24.95 Softcover. Yale’s latest release in the Clark Studies in the Visual Arts Series, The Lure of the Object explores how artists, historians, and the viewing public have dealt with the “object” in all of its various manifestations from the past and on into the present. Intellectually engaging and comprehensive. ****

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON PRESS: André Derain: The London Paintings by John House et al. 144 pp.; 8 ½ x 10; 120 Color Illus.; Exhibition Checklist; Selected Bibliography. $40.00 Softcover. Published in conjunction with a recent exhibition at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, The London Paintings presents 30 images from the artist’s time spent in England. Extensive commentary is given for both the time spent and for each of the works reproduced. *** 
Syncopated Rhythms: 20^th-Century African American Art from the George and Joyce Wein Collection by Patricia Hills and Melissa Renn. 100 pp.; 8 ½ x 11; 64 Color Illus.; Selected Bibliography. $24.95 Softcover. The accompanying catalogue to a recent exhibition at the Boston University Art Gallery, Syncopated Rhythms showcases George and Joyce Wein’s considerable collection of African American art. Colorful. ***  
Karen Lamonte: Absence Adorned by Arthur C. Danto and Juli Cho Bailer. 80 pp.; 9 3/8 x 11 ¾; 40 B/W & Color Illus.; Artist Biography; Exhibitions; Plate List; Select Bibliography. $24.95 Softcover. Published to coincide with an exhibition presently at the Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art, Tacoma, WA (thru Sep 4), Absence Adorned offers an overview of the glass sculptures of Karen Lamonte. Beautiful reproductions. ***

PRESTEL: Living Monet: The Artist’s Gardens by Doris Kutschbach. 144 pp.; 10 ¼ x 12 ½; 110 Illus., 100 in Color; Appendix. $35.00 Hardcover. Beautifully illustrated and handsomely produced, Living Monet offers a visual feast of images (both paintings and photographs) of the home, gardens, and environs of Monet’s Giverny. The next best thing to an actual visit. *****
Auguste Rodin: Erotic Sketchbook by Norbert Wolf. 64 pp.; 6 ½ x 8 ¾; 38 Color Illus.; List of Illustrations. $25.00 Hardcover. The latest in their erotic sketchbook series, Auguste Rodin offers up some thirty-plus sketches from the hand of this master sculptor. With each volume handsomely produced, this set make for a very nice addition to any library. *****
Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors: Masterpieces from the Late Years by Olivier Berggruen and Max Hollein. 176 pp.; 7 ¾ x 9 ½; 149 Illus., 105 in Color; Biography; List of Works Illustrated; Selected Bibliography. 19.95 Softcover. Hailed by some as among his greatest works, Drawing with Scissors presents an overview of the artist’s “cut-outs”, from Jazz to the large-scale works from his last years. Includes explorations into how these “scissor” works relate to his earliest days. **** 
Egon Schiele: Eros and Passion by Klaus Albrecht Schroder. 120 pp.; 7 ¼ x 10 ¾; 80 Illus., 60 in Color; Biographical Notes; List of Plates. $14.95 Softcover. This little book does more than simply sum up the work of an artist who set himself up to be an extreme exponent of the theory that art and society — by necessity — must clash; it also offers up extensive notes on his life and development, offering up a clear picture of both man and artist. Comprehensive. ****
Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz by Peter Cornell-Richter. 128 pp.; 7 ¼ x 10 ¾; 80 Illus., 50 in Color; Endnotes; List of Illustrations; Selected Bibliography. $14.95 Softcover. Explores the relationship between the two artists, including both what held them together as well as what drove them into separate paths. Beautifully illustrated. ***

STERLING PUBLISHING CO., INC.: Art of Still Life Drawing w/text by David Sanmiguel. 160 pp.; 9 x 11 3/8; B/W Illus.; Index. $17.95 Softcover. The latest release from Sterling’s long list of “How-To” artbooks, Art of Still Life Drawing is replete with tips, directions and guidelines for both the novice and experienced draftsman. Bargain books for the serious artist at moderate prices.

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