Raymond Steiner Editor * Cornelia Seckel Publisher
New
Art Books / Videos
ART
TIMES November 2008
PRESTEL:
Cy Twombly: Photographs 1951—2007 by Laszlo Glozer. 160
pp.; 9 1/2; x 12 1/2;; 120 Color Illus.; Appendices. $99.00
Hardcover. Author Laszlo Glozer offers us a fresh look at the abstract
expressionist Cy Twombly by introducing us to his relatively unknown
use of the camera in his Cy Twombly: Photographs 1951—2007.
A major study and an impressive overview. *****
Anish Kapoor: From Color to Darkness: Svayambh by Rainer Crone and
Alexandra von Stosch. 160 pp.; 7 3/4; x 9 1/2;; 100 Color
Illus.; Biography; List of Works, Index. 49.95 Hardcover. From Color
to Darkness examines Anish Kapoor’s recent sculptural works
and installations in light of his total oeuvre, attempting in the process
to view him in “historical and philosophical context”. I’ll let the
reader decide. ***
Egon Schiele: Poems and Letters by Elisabeth Leopold. 144
pp.; 7 3/4; x 10; 100 Color Illus.; Bibliography; Inde4x. $49.95
Hardcover. Author Leopold offers an intimate look into a side of
Egon Schiele that not many are aware of — his lyrical poetry and
moving letter-writing. Poems and Letters makes for fascinating
insights into this strangely tormented artist. *****
50 Photographers You Should Know by Peter Stepan. 176 pp.; 7
3/4; x 9 1/2;; 200 Color Illus.; Index. $19.95 Softcover. The
latest release in their “50” Series, Photographers You Should Know
lists, as the title suggests, the fifty most prominent photographers
according to the compiler, Peter Stepan. Whatever your particular tastes,
the book offers a wide range that reveals the evolution of photography.
Informative. ****
YALE
UNIVERSITY PRESS: Sun, Wind, and Rain: The Art of David Cox by
Scott Wilcox. 272 pp.; 9 7/8 x 11 3/8; 220 Color Illus.; Cox’s Oil-Painting
Techniques; Selected Exhibitions; Selected Literature; Index. $75.00
Hardcover. Another example of an accomplished landscape painter
rescued from the vagaries of art historical oversight, Sun, Wind,
and Rain offers up the first major study of David Cox in
over one hundred years. A brilliant painter in oil and watercolor, Cox’s
mastery of capturing light-in-nature is world-class. Lavishly illustrated
with excellent reproductions of his art, this catalogue has been published
in conjunction with an exhibition currently at the Yale Center for British
Art (thru Jan 4, ’09). *****
Jan Lievens: A Dutch Master Rediscovered by Arthur K. Wheelock,
Jr. 320 pp.; 9 3/4; x 11 3/4;; 295 Illus., 250 in Color;
Notes; Select Bibliography; Index. $65.00 Hardcover. Published in
conjunction with an exhibition currently at the National Gallery of
Art, Washington (thru Jan 11, ’09) which will then travel to the Milwaukee
Art Museum (Feb 7—Apr 26) and close at Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam
(May 17—Aug 9), A Dutch Master Rediscovered is a
beautifully produced catalogue that offers comprehensive overview of
the life and work of Jan Lievens, an often neglected compatriot of Rembrandt
who has long enjoyed a world spotlight. Lavishly illustrated. *****
James Castle: A Retrospective by Ann Percy. 272 pp.; 9 1/4;
x 12; 437 Illus., 420 in Color; Chronology; Checklist of Exhibition;
Appendix; Notes; Bibliography; Index of Names. $60.00 Hardcover. Published
on the occasion of an exhibition of the same name at the Philadelphia
Museum of Art (thru Jan 4, ’09), this catalogue presents an overview
of the life and art of the autodidact James Castle. Lavishly produced
and illustrated. ****
The Arts of Intimacy: Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Making of
Castilian Culture by Jerrilyn D. Dodds, Maria Rosa Menocal,
and Abigail Krasner Balbale. 416 pp.; 7 3/8 x 10 1/4;; 210 Illus.,
200 in Color; Chronology; Genealogies; Notes; Glossary; Sources and
Readings; Bibliography; Index. $40.00 Hardcover. In today’s “flat-world”
cyberspace, The Arts of Intimacy is indeed a timely book. Scholarly,
comprehensive, and eminently readable, the book tells a tale of an intricately
woven world made up of what, for many, are three incompatible belief
systems. A must for public and institutional libraries around the world.
*****
ABRAMS:
Paper Illusions: The Art of Isabelle De Borchgrave by Barbara and
René Stoeltie. 208 pp.; 10 x 12; 240 Color Photographs. $75.00 Hardcover.
With lace from Bruges, brocade from the Renaissance, and silk à
la Pompadour as her inspiration, Isabelle De Borchgrave cuts, folds,
glues, and paints her paper costumes, creating an illusion that gives
trompe l’oeil art a new meaning. Paper Illusions tells
her story and presents an impressive overview of her work. ****
NEW-YORK
HISTORICAL SOCIETY/D GILES LTD: Drawn by New York: Six Centuries of
Watercolors and Drawings at the New-York Historical Society by Roberta J.M. Olson. 448 pp.; 9 x 11 1/2;; B/W & Color Illus.;
Note; Short References; Index. $45.00 Softcover. Author Roberta J.M. Olson, Curator of Drawings at the
New-York Historical Society, here brings to light for the first time
some of the vast holdings of drawings and paintings that the Society
has collected over the years. Drawn by New York is a hefty tome,
published in conjunction with an exhibition presently on view —
see Review in this Issue — and handsomely complements the extensive
show at the Society. *****
SHAMBHALA
PUBLICATIONS, INC.: The Art of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its History
and Meaning by Denise Patry Leidy. 342 pp.; 7 3/8 x 10 1/4;;
B/W & Color Illus.; Notes; Selected Bibliography; Index. $45.00
Hardcover. An Asian history, cultural study, and art book all in
one, The Art of Buddhism offers comprehensive and scholarly insights
into the world of Buddhism. Handsomely produced and lavishly illustrated.
*****
How to Wrap Five Eggs by Hideyuki Oka. 224 pp.; 7 3/16 x 10 1/8;
B/W Photographs; Commentaries. $30.00 Softcover. A glance back into
pre-mass production process, How to Wrap Five Eggs offers up
a delightful array of the art of Japanese packaging from traditional
materials — bamboo, rice straw, hemp twine, paper, leaves, etc.
Visually compelling. *****
BARRON’S
EDUCATIONAL SERIES: 501 Great Artists by Stephen Farthing. 640
pp.; 6 5/16 x 8 1/4;; 670 B/W & Color Illus.; Glossary; Index.
$29.99 Hardcover. Painting Light and Shade and Painting
the Human Figure (Both): (English translation from Spanish) Michael
Brunelle and Beatriz Cortabarría. 64pp.; 8 1/4; x 11; Color Illus.
$12.99 Hardcover. The latest releases from Barron’s Educational
Series, both of these books reflect the high quality that appears to
be a part of their handy, easily read, affordable artbooks that offer
clear guides and examples for beginners. 501 Great Artists includes
both biographical information as well as representative illustrations.
****
STERLING
PUBLISHING CO., INC.: Gustav Klimt: Art Nouveau Visionary by
Eva di Stefano. 240 pp.; 10 1/4; x 11 1/4;; B/W & Color Illus.;
Appendix; Bibliography; Index of Names. $21.95 Softcover. With
a full range of posters, drawings, paintings, and photographs, this
moderately-priced catalogue covering the life and work of Gustave Klimt
may well be one of the best bargains around town. A visual treat! *****
Romanesque & Gothic by Gloria Fossi; Renaissance &
Mannerism by Diane Bodart; Modern & Contemporary Art
by Michele Dantini: (All): 192 pp.; 8 1/2; x 10 7/16;
Color Illus.; Bibliography; Index. $14.95 Softcover. A departure
from their regular “how-to” series of artbooks, these latest three are
a part of a new series on art history, written by scholars in the field.
Like all of Sterling releases, these are excellently prepared, fully
informational, and moderately priced. A bargain for the new collector
of handy artbooks. *****