Books of Hours were the bestsellers of the late Middle Ages. Books of Hours, Books of Hope provides unambiguous and accessible answers to the most intriguing questions about the use and significance of these devotional books: what were they about, who were the makers and readers, where did people learn to read, did they use reading glasses or lamps, what do the humorous figures in the margins symbolize, and why do Books of Hours feature so frequently in portraits by, for example, the Flemish Primitives?
From sumptuous masterpieces embellished with gold leaf to modest, well-thumbed copies dotted with candle-wax stains or personal notes – each one has a story to tell. Books of Hours were popular among all levels of society, from dukes and countesses to bricklayers and maids. Not only as showpieces, but above all as their owners’ faithful companions, cherished and used intensively.
Lavishly illustrated with masterpieces from the collections of the Bruges Public Library and Musea Brugge, this publication is a must-have for those who wish to immerse themselves in the fascinating book culture of the medieval era.
Publication accompanying the exhibition Pride and Solace: medieval Books of Hours and their readers at the Groeningemuseum in Bruges from 4 April until 7 October 2025.
“Seldom does a collection of art history essays leave readers yearning for a second volume…”—Barbara Wisch, Renaissance Quarterly
Roman church interiors throughout the Early Modern age were endowed with rich historical and visual significance. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in anticipation of and following the Council of Trent, and in response to the expansion of the Roman Curia, the chapel became a singular arena in which wealthy and powerful Roman families, as well as middle-class citizens, had the opportunity to demonstrate their status and role in Roman society. In most cases the chapels were conceived not as isolated spaces, but as part of a more complex system, which involved the nave and the other chapels within the church, in a dialogue among the arts and the patrons of those other spaces. This volume explores this historical and artistic phenomenon through a number of examples involving the patronage of prominent Roman families such as the Chigis, Spadas, Caetanis, Cybos and important artists and architects such as Federico Zuccari, Giacomo della Porta, Carlo Maderno, Alessandro Algardi, Pietro da Cortona, Carlo Maratta.
“I have never read a text which goes even half as far as this one in expressing the particular poignancy which lay at the heart of the impressionist movement. I say this as an art critic. As a novelist I would simply like to pay my tribute to the mastery of language, portraiture and storytelling which Figes has now at her command.” – John Berger
“A small masterpiece” – Susan Hill
“A luminous prose poem” – Joyce Carol Oates
This shimmering novel is an extraordinary portrait of a day in the life of an artist at work and at home. In prose as luminous as the colors Monet is using to portray his garden, Eva Figes guides us from dawn (‘midnight blueblack growing grey and misty’) through midday (‘the sun was high now… shrinking what little shadow remained, fading colors, the pink rambler roses on the fence by the railway track looked almost white’) to evening (‘the tide of shadows rising as the sunset glow faded outside.’) Monet’s wife, grieving for a lost daughter; a living daughter, fretting that she will not be able to marry the man she loves; their friend the abbé, eating and drinking with them; two children playing, closest to Monet in the freshness and certainty of their vision; all experiencing in different ways the richness of the light that Monet works unceasingly to pin down in his last, great paintings.
Sheila Fruman, fascinated by the textiles and handmade carpets she saw when she traveled overland in 1969 from Turkey to India, tells the stories of nine intrepid adventurers who have combed the streets and bazaars of Central and South Asia finding, researching, collecting and selling antique Kashmir shawls, embroidered Uzbek textiles and robes, Anatolian kilims, Turkmen carpets and many other textile treasures to interested Westerners.
These stories capture the post-World War II era’s free spirit that briefly coincided with economic prosperity and open borders. With over 200 color illustrations, the book shows how the indigenous designs and motifs popularized in the US and Europe by these textile travelers can now be found in anything from haute couture to high-end interior design to mass-marketed bedding, tableware and clothing.
The dealers and collectors who have spent their lives seeking these complex pieces of the past have intriguing stories to tell and collections of some of the finest textiles of their kind in the world. Taken together, their stories are an enlightening guide to understanding how we connect to the past, and how textiles connect the world.
An ode to the Kingdom of Brittany that reveals the treasures and mysteries of the Western-most point of France. Overlooking the ocean with breathtaking natural settings, this vibrant region is celebrated in Best of Brittany. The particulars of the Breton lifestyle – sports, traditions, monuments, festivals, arts & crafts, agriculture, and gastronomy – all are included here.
Texts in English, French and Breton.
Empirical evidence is scant and scattered. Between these fragments, historians have filled the voids with legends. Though legends are not evidence per se, they do carry a seed of truth – and hopefully, their incorporation in this volume will inspire new interest in the mystery of the world’s greatest temples. The engineering techniques that allowed ancient civilizations to construct such marvellous edifices have been lost to us for generations. Unfortunately, they have not received the attention they deserve, as relics of human culture and faith. This is especially true for Konark. In The Sun Temple of Konark, the author attempts to separate chaff from grain, utilizing scientific tools and methodologies. The Sun Temple has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered one of the seven wonders of India. This seminal volume is the result of extensive research by the author into not only the history and legends related to the temple, but also the temple structure itself. An engineer and architect by profession, the author examines the temple in great detail. He questions several of the established theories regarding construction in its various stages and forwards his own theories with reasonable conviction. He takes great pains to go into as much detail as possible with regard to each and every portion, monument, and sculpture of the temple. With 415 images and 21 detailed architectural drawings, the book is a treasure trove for any admirer or student of Konark, or a researcher of its art, history, and architecture.
Effie Gray was an innocent victim of a male-dominated society, repressed and mistreated. Or was she? John Ruskin, the greatest art critic and social reformer of his time, was a callous misogynist and upholder of the patriarchy. Or was he? John Everett Millais, boy genius, rescued the heroine from the tyrannical clutches of the husband who left his wedding unconsummated for six years. Or did he? What really happened in the most scandalous love triangle of the 19th century? Was it all about impotence and pubic hair? Or was it about money, power and freedom? If so, whose? And what possibilities were there for these young people caught in a world racked by social, financial and political turmoil? The accepted story of the Ruskin marriage has never lost its fascination. History books, novels, television series, operas and now a star-filled film by Emma Thompson have all followed this standard line. It seems to offer an easy take on the Victorians and how we have moved on. But the story isn’t true.
In Marriage of Inconvenience Robert Brownell uses extensive documentary evidence – much of it never seen before, and much of it hitherto suppressed – to reveal a story no less fascinating and human, no less illuminating about the Victorians and far more instructive about our own times, than the myths that have grown up about the most notorious marriage of the 19th century.
This book grants unexpected, beautiful and provoking insights into the diversity of the collection of treasures held in Leipzig’s GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts. Focusing on the joy of contemplating the works, its hope is to awaken the desire for a personal encounter with them. The sequence of illustrations highlights exciting connections, diversions and views between the objects. Chronological records or even the stringent arrangement of the collections and materials play no role here, allowing surprisingly novel, latent qualities that are frequently otherwise hidden, to be revealed.
In this publication the works meet face to face and present a wonderful survey of the diverse forms of applied art and design.
The National Galleries of Scotland comprises three galleries: the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Gallery. Together these galleries house one of the finest collections of art to be found anywhere in the world, ranging from the thirteenth century to the present day. Many of the greatest names in Western art are represented by major works, from Titian, Rembrandt and Vermeer through to Picasso, Hockney and Warhol. This lavishly illustrated book contains one hundred of the National Galleries of Scotland s greatest and best-loved treasures. The selection made by the Director-General Sir John Leighton is intended to evoke the special character of the collection at the National Galleries with its distinctive interplay between Scottish and international art as well as the many conversations that it establishes between the art of the past and the present.
Beginning with the 12,000-year-old cave paintings of Bhimbetka, up to the Bah’ai House of Worship, a blinding masterpiece of 20th-century engineering and design, the wealth of creative genius, brilliant skill and endeavor of its people are evident in India’s man-made wonders. Between the soaring medieval temples of the South and dramatically perched Buddhist monasteries of the North; the uniquely ornamented stepwells of the West and the grand Victoria Memorial, a symbol of British supremacy in the East, lie massive forts, fairy-tale palaces, tombs of Sultans, ruined ancient cities, statuesque cathedrals, and of course, the resplendent Taj Mahal. Along with these are the wonders bestowed on India by nature. In a country blessed with astoundingly diverse ecology and terrain, these range from the mighty Himalayan peaks of Nanda Devi and Kanchenjunga to the elephant-inhabited lush tropical forests of Periyar, and from the pristine-white island beaches of Lakshadweep to the tiger-infested delta of two legendary rivers: the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. Showcased in this book, in a feast of lavish colour photographs and lucid text, are 100 fabulous destinations that evoke the wonder that is India.
Masterpieces at the Jaipur Court is the sixth in a new series of books initiated by the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, City Palace, Jaipur. Written by leading specialists, they are designed to be accessible and attractive for a new generation of readers and researchers. Each of the other volumes covers one aspect of the collections. But the need was felt for something handier, which would showcase the highlights of the collection as a whole. This selection features some of the most exquisite images, artefacts, paintings, monuments and historical treasures of the Jaipur Court.
Over the years, it has been an honor for the Museum Trust to welcome a variety of visiting scholars from India and abroad. The editors are pleased and grateful that some three dozen visiting scholars readily contributed two-thirds of the entries in this volume, making this a celebration of collaboration, in addition to a tribute to the Museum’s collections.
The contributors were asked to pick their favorite object from among those they had worked on recently, so that readers perceive a diversity of voices and views. Apart from this, current and recent members of the curatorial team have contributed entries, to complete the selection of the Museum’s finest objects across all categories, and all historical periods.
This publication was designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Riace Bronzes. In it, Luigi Spina’s photographic research dialogs with the texts written by Carmelo Malacrino.
The photographer here develops a continued narrative, offering a direct comparison between the two sculptures, identified as A and B, exploring interpretations of the physicality of the two subjects as well as the three-dimensional quality of the bronze bodies, often concealed by the two-dimensional appearance of photographic images.
Carmelo Malacrino analyzes these famous 5th century BC masterpieces from two points of view: as ancient works of art on the one hand, and considering their significance for contemporary culture on the other. He retraces the story of the Bronzes beginning with their discovery in August, 1972, exploring the circumstances of their unearthing, the restoration they underwent, the exhibitions in which they were shown, as well as the impact they have had on the public, both nationally and internationally. Equally relevant is the reinterpretation of these two statues, beginning with their contextualization in the sphere of ancient Greek art, the related stylistic issues, and the reflection upon the practices and the knowledge possessed by Classical sculpture workshops.
This volume will be a pleasant surprise for those of you who love Classical sculpture, for archaeology enthusiasts, and for all those who aren’t satisfied with a quick glance when it comes to admiring a work of art.
Seattle has fueled the hopes, dreams, and imaginations of countless individuals throughout its history. Their energy, ideas, and inventions have influenced the city’s skyline, the evolution of air travel, the music and art worlds, and even the very coffee we drink. They are the reason Seattle is gifted with so many unusual, offbeat, and truly compeling places for explorers to discover and enjoy, from a coin-operated attraction filled with enormous shoes, the world’s greenest commercial building, and urban old growth forests, to a haunted staircase and museums dedicated to pinball, dialysis machines, and rubber chickens.
111 Places in Seattle That You Must Not Miss invites and inspires locals and visitors alike to seek out the Emerald City’s hidden treasures, overlooked gems, and charming curiosities.
Car Racing 1971 is every bit a worthy successor in the tradition established by the six previous tomes of the Car Racing series (1965 to 1970). It is still through treasures unearthed from the archives of the DPPI photographic agency that this book offers, for the title year, a unique experience of immersion in the atmosphere of 1970s motorsport. Created in 1965 by a group of photographers fascinated by the fury of the track and the bravura of drivers, DPPI has always gone where the action is. This proximity resulted in incredible action photos, unimaginable today. ‘This is not an umpteenth book on the history of motorsport,’ insists DPPI director Fabrice Connen. ‘In every case, we favored the strongest, most unusual pictures or those that best recreated the atmosphere of the time, even if they were taken at minor events or depicted less famous competitors.’
Text in English and French
Cheers to cosiness! Why is everyone so “crazy” about the Munich Oktoberfest? One thing is certain: the Oktoberfest epitomizes everything that Germany and the whole world love about Bavarian culture: Fesche Madln, hefty food and hearty dance music.
In this Callwey book, deeply rooted traditions are brought to life, numerous exciting facts about the Wiesn are revealed and the most beautiful moments around the Oktoberfest are captured. Visiting the Oktoberfest brings the Wiesn into your own four walls: Wies’n landlords reveal the tastiest Bavarian recipes to recreate, their favorite places and insider tips throughout Munich, and tell never-before-heard Munich stories.
The always astonishing stories of hundreds of dream cars covered in dust found in barns in the French or Belgian countryside, or stranded in open fields, overgrown with weeds, hidden for more than 50 years. “We found one of three Maserati A6G 2000 Berlinettas bodied by Frua, dating from 1956. And then, under piles of magazines, we discovered something even more exciting… a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider , with obscured headlights, a car which belonged to Alain Delon, who was photographed on several occasions at the wheel – accompanied, in 1964, by Jane Fonda.”
That’s not all: Maserati A6G 2000 Gran Sport, Facel Vega Excellence, Hispano-Suiza H6B, Bugatti 57 Ventoux. Several Talbot-Lago, Delahaye and Voisin – the list of classic automobiles, forgotten for decades is incredible. In 2015, the Baillon collection, a “lifetime work”, was sold at auction for more than 25 million euros by Artcurial. Mi urbex-mi automobile collection: nuggets of inestimable value in their abandoned state before restoration.
What is most impressive is the sheer number of cars stored in barns or scattered across meadows overgrown with shrubs.
Christian Martin immortalizes these mechanical marvels and brings them to life through striking photographs. This enthusiasm is reflected in his photographs, presented for the first time in this book.
Text in English and French.
Whether you’re a proud Cardiffian, or a curious visitor, this is your ultimate guide to the Welsh capital’s hidden treasures and quirky charms.
From the familiar to the downright bizarre, each entry offers a unique insight into the city’s life. Where can you dare to stand in a hurricane or peek into magical miniature worlds?
Visit the place where Snoop Dogg turned gardener, uncover the unexpected tales behind the Norwegian church, touch walls that have stood for over 1,500 years, and even use a genuine 1920s urinal (gents only, of course!).
But that’s just the beginning. With 111 unique locations to explore, you’ll discover Cardiff’s rich history and vibrant present. Each entry is brimming with fascinating facts, local lore, and practical visiting information, making this book perfect for both day-trippers and residents.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, entertaining out-of-town guests, or simply looking to fall in love with your city all over again, this guide will take you on a journey of discovery.
“…packed with superb colour photographs… This book is a wonderful companion to cathedral-crawling, not least in helping the crawlers work out what is, and what isn’t, worth seeing” – Simon Heffer, Telegraph“
A beautifully illustrated guide” — Premier Christianity
“[The] thrilling tale of the medium’s continuity… is set forth by Janet Gough, the erstwhile director of Cathedrals and Church buildings at the C of E, in her latest book, Divine Light” — World of Interiors
“I would recommend that you visit some of these cathedrals, book in hand.” — The Methodist Recorder
The stained-glass windows of England’s cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious and other messages, and – perhaps – offer us a glimpse of heaven. This book tells the remarkable story of these much-loved works of art.
Divine Light features glass from every Church of England cathedral. It spans 900 years, beginning with the windows installed at Canterbury Cathedral following the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170 and representing every subsequent century in the history of English stained glass. Divine Light encompasses the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the hugely productive ‘long 19th century’, the Pre-Raphaelites, the Arts and Crafts movement, the creative commissions of the 20th century, and the innovative glass being commissioned by cathedrals today.
The book establishes the connections between the artistic beauty of stained glass, its effectiveness as a narrative medium, and the various technical developments that have shaped the work of practitioners over the centuries. The refraction of light through colored glass emerges as an early form of mass communications that retains its power to move and inspire today.
A visionary leader and a charming diplomat, this catalog unveils a largely private collection of objects belonging to His Highness the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman. The 50 artifacts from the Renaissance collection, currently held in the National Museum of Oman, have been chosen to offer an intimate portrait of the Sultan’s 50-year reign. The collection showcases treasures – many seen here for the first time – received from friends and rulers worldwide as well as symbolic objects that reflect the early years of Oman’s independence. Through 50 significant objects and the elegant integration of the Sultan’s own inspiring quotes as calligraphy, this beautifully illustrated book provides a unique and personal perspective on a transformative era.
Travel today is fast, comfortable, and accessible to many. But between the 17th and early 19th centuries, it was a privilege reserved for the elite. Young British aristocrats would embark on a Grand Tour as the final stage of their education. Italy was the highlight of this cultural journey, with visits to Rome, Florence, Venice, and Mount Vesuvius. Along the way, they admired art and architecture, forged connections, and refined their taste—often returning home with artworks and souvenirs to adorn their country estates.
It wasn’t just young men who traveled; entire families journeyed across Europe in grand entourages. What inspired them to set out, which routes did they take, and what treasures did they bring back?
This book explores those journeys and presents a remarkable selection of artworks brought home from three of England’s finest stately homes: Holkham Hall, Burghley House, and Woburn Abbey.
Discover the Finger Lakes: 4,692 square miles of Upstate New York packed with history, vineyards, waterfalls, gorges, and hidden treasures.
111 Places in the Finger Lakes That You Must Not Miss takes you off the beaten path to the odd, the unexpected, and the downright fascinating. Explore stories, legends, and secrets most visitors never find.
Have lunch at the world’s smallest diner. Spin on the world’s fastest carousel. Stand beneath waterfalls taller than Niagara. Tour a haunted winery. Browse a collection of brains. Try your hand at circus school. Wander the village where A Christmas Carol comes alive. Visit the Dalai Lama’s North American retreat.
The Finger Lakes have been called magical, creative, historic, and breathtaking – and you’ll see why. Adventure, mystery, and wonder await at every turn.
Welcome to Birmingham, a super-diverse city with an ever-shifting identity. This is the quiet medieval market town that overnight became the center of the industrial revolution, over the centuries rolling out leather wares, jewelry, steam engines, motor cars, fountain pens, gun smithery, toys, chocolate, heavy metal music and nanotechnology. The city’s drive to successively reinvent itself as motor city, conference capital and shopping destination reflects that initial burst of energy. The result is a city of many layers, bold planning experiments, overlapping fragments and pockets of creative endeavor which can be tough to navigate without a guide. However, its many treasures coruscate more brilliantly for being lost. This book tells the story many would miss through the art, places, buildings, people and the dynamic mix of cultures that reveal the Birmingham identity, from the smallest architectural details to epic civic structures. Only here can you chill on a bench with local heroes Black Sabbath, will you be greeted at the museum by the fallen angel Lucifer, chance upon a golden Burmese peace pagoda, time travel in the Shakespeare Library and find the world’s oldest surviving instance of railway architecture.
For over 2000 years artists travelled throughout India, using painted picture scrolls to spread stories from the great Indian epics, as well as a wealth of stories about regional Gods and heroes and moral tales, amongst the most illiterate rural population. In the hands of the painters and singers, the picture scrolls became a portable cinema, projection screens for mythical knowledge and an incentive to listen to the songs whilst looking at the scrolls. In the same way that other oral art forms have dwindled and lost significance, the picture scroll artists also lost their public and their income. However, in the east of India – in West Bengal and Jharkhand – two closely related but distinctive picture scroll traditions have been upheld: the patua and the jadopatia. Political changes, technical innovations and social turmoil brought both these traditions face to face with the necessity to develop new survival strategies too. Accompanies an exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich, Switzerland, from 30th August 2012.