ABBEVILLE PRESS: Courbet by Ségolène Le Men. 400 pp.; 10 13/16 x 12 ¾; 309 Color Illus.; Chronology; Notes; Bibliography; Index of Names; Index of Works. $135.00 Slip-Cased Hardbound. Surely a work of art in and of itself, this newest monograph on Gustave Courbet offers up fresh insights and information on the man who has been hailed as “the first modern artist.” Lavishly illustrated with excellent reproductions (both detailed and full form), Courbet will stand as the definitive text on this groundbreaking ‘realist’ for some time to come. Published to coincide with the retrospective of the artist’s oeuvre at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Highly recommended. *****

YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS: Spectacular Flirtations: Viewing the Actress in British Art and Theater, 1768-1820 by Gill Perry. 248 pp.; 9 3/8 x 11 3/8; 135 Illus., 50 in Color; Appendices; Notes; Bibliography; Index. $75.00 Hardcover. From whore to grand lady, Spectacular Flirtations explores the role of the female actor in the annals and evolution of art during the Georgian period. Includes not only an array of past beauties and their effect on the creative life of England, but the work of such artists as Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Lawrence, among many others. A visual treat. *****
The Lure of the East: British Orientalist Painting (Ed.) Nicholas Tromans. 224 pp.; 9 5/8 x 12; 172 Illus., 161 in Color; Notes; Some Key Political Events; Further Reading; List of Exhibited Works; List of Lenders; Index. $65.00 Hardcover. Handsomely produced and lavishly illustrated, The Lure of the East is published in conjunction with a traveling exhibition that will travel from England to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Includes some well- and little-known works by such artists as Joshua Reynolds, John Singer Sargent, J.F. Lewis, Edward Lear, among others. *****
In the Forest of Fontainebleau: Painters and Photographers from Corot to Monet by Kimberly Jones, et al. 224 pp.; 9 7/8 x 11 7/8; 179 Color Illus.; Chronology; Notes; Bibliography; Index. $60.00 Hardcover. Gorgeously illustrated and handsomely produced, In the Forest of Fontainebleau is the accompanying catalogue to a traveling exhibition presently at the National Gallery of Art, Washington (thru Jun 8) and which will then re-open at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Jul 13-Oct 19). Includes scholarly essays on both the artists and the physical aspects of the forest itself. Highly recommended. *****
The Dalí Renaissance: New Perspectives on His Life and Art after 1940 (Ed.) Michael R. Taylor. 236 pp.; 6 ½ x 9 3/8; 90 B/w Illus.; Index of Names; Index of Works by Dalí. $24.95 Softcover. Published in conjunction with an international symposium at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a major retrospective of his work, The Dalí Renaissance offers new insights into the last five years of the artist’s life and work. Includes analyses by a host of scholars as well as personal reminiscences of Dalí’s companions. ***

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESS: Masterworks from the Indiana University Art Museum by Adelheid M. Gealt, et al. 384 pp.; 9 x 11 3/8; 180 Color Illus. $39.95 Softcover. Lavishly illustrated with ample commentary by individual curators, Masterworks from the Indiana University Art Museum offers a comprehensive overview of the Indiana University’s impressive collection of art from around the world. Excellent reproductions. ****

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS: Impressionism and The Modern Landscape: Productivity, Technology, and Urbanization from Manet to van Gogh by James H. Rubin. 256 pp.; 8 ¼ x 10 ¼; 149 B/W & Color Illus.; List of Abbreviations; Notes; List of Illustrations; Index. $49.95 Hardcover. Author James H. Rubin, Professor of Art History at SUNY Stony Brook, offers up in Impressionism and The Modern Landscape a fresh perspective into a little-noticed aspect of the impressionist movement — viz. how widely — and effectively — they turned to urban motifs. Refreshingly insightful. *****

STERLING PUBLISHING CO., INC.: Painting on Glass & Ceramic by Karen Embry. 8 ½ x 11; 128 pp. $24.95 Hardcover. Light and Mood in Watercolor by David Curtis. 144 pp.; 8 ½ x 10 7/8. 19.95 Softcover. Art of Drawing Anatomy by David Sanmiguel. 160 pp.; 9 x 11 3/8. $19.95 Softcover.   Priscilla Hauser’s Decorative Painting Workshop by Priscilla Hauser. 128 pp.; 8 ½ x 11. $14.95 Softcover. Priscilla Hauser’s Book of Painting Patterns by Priscilla Hauser. 144 pp.; 8 ½ x 11. $14.95 Softcover. Watercolor for the First Time by Kory Fluckiger. 128 pp.; 8 ½ x 10; Resources. $9.95 Softcover. The newest “how-to” releases from Sterling, all of these workbooks are in full color, indexed, and several with metric conversion charts included. As with their usual high-quality output of books from British authors, this latest batch will be of use to beginner and pro alike, each offering clear instructions and suggestions to guide the hand and eye. All rate *****.

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