Mr. Lopez reinterprets the civilization of the High Renaissance in Italy as a dramatic succession of three ages: Youth, 1454-1494; Maturity, 1494-1527; Decline, 1527-1559. In the first period, political and economic stabilization brings forth a mood of confident expectation which expresses itself in literature, art, and philosophy, all reaching for a goal of "self-centered aesthetic harmony." In the second period, a series of foreign invasions shatters the political and economic well-being of the Indian elite but does not slow down the artistic and literary drive. Whether in hope or in sorrow, in response to shock or in escape from reality, the Renaissance attains its glorious climax. The third period is torn between conflicting tendencies. The political battle is lost but there is a second economic revival; art and literature give out despondent notes but successfully explore new channels; philosophic permissiveness comes to an end but scientific reserach comes into its own. Mr. Lopez's tripartition of an age which is usually described as a single sweep adds depth to the definition of the Italian Renaissance. It is enhanced by his fresh translations of Renaissance poems and by twenty-four illustrations which pick out from the incomparable wealth of Renaissance art a few historically significant works. All the famous names are there, from Lorenzo de'Medici to Ariosto, Machiavelli, and Cardano, from Botticelli to Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Palladio; but one also meets a large number of minor figures and anonymous people in the street. America is discovered; new diseases appear; anti-Semitism reawakens; religious unity is destroyed - these and other events form the backdrop. The sparkling narration is thoroughly grounded in contemporary sources.

This "In Art" book is dedicated to the men in my life who have spent decades of their lives in service to their country through the military: my father-in-law, Daniel Jaime, Sr., my father, John McGrew, and my husband, Daniel Jaime. Between them they saw service in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Desert Storm. This book is arranged chronologically, according to major conflicts that U.S. Soldiers have seen action in - from the French and Indian War when American soldiers fought alongside British soldiers, through to 2010 when American soldiers helped with relief efforts after the earthquake in Haiti. Note to parents/teachers: The books in this serious generally consist of family-friendly, "rated G" paintings. Because of the topic of this particular book, I would say this one is more of a "PG" rating.

Architecture is a part of our everyday life. But do we think of it when we think of great art? Here is a picture book for adults and students of all ages...A picture book of architecture in art Different colors, shapes, sizes...Some where the buildings are only a small part of the painting, some where they are the focus of the painting...Some where the exteriors of the buildings are the focus, a few where it is the interior that is the important portion. As with the other books in this series, the paintings in this book have been selected to be family-friendly (though the same cannot be said by all of the other paintings of some of these artists).

When I think of cities in the United States, I think first of New York City. And one of the first things to come to mind in New York City is Central Park. This small book takes a quick look at Central Park through art. It is meant to be enjoyed by adults and students of all ages. Look through these paintings that span many decades, and notice the similarities and the differences between them...See the colors, the textures and patterns, and more. Take note of whether there are people included in the different paintings; and if so, are men, women, or children more often portrayed? Do you like certain artists or styles more than others? But, most of all, enjoy Note to parents: All of the paintings selected for the books in this series are child-friendly - but we aren't necessarily recommending all of the other paintings by these same artists If you and your children want to go exploring after this - please exercise caution.

The newest book in the "Enjoying Great Art" series, this book focuses on the government of the United States - but from an artistic point of view. A great introduction to U.S. Government, a great review, or just a fun way to enjoy an important topic from a more visual perspective than usual.

The newest book in the "Enjoying Great Art" Series: Great art comes in many sizes and shapes, in many colors and styles. It can also be about many different themes - real and imaginary. Other books in the series have included art arranged around many topics - including bridges, hats, and animals, to name just a few. But this book arranges the art around a geographical theme - the fifty different states of the United States. Here each state is presented through one or more pictures. They represent some combination of the landscape, flower, and/or animal of each state. Some are historical in nature, though many are of a more time-less style. Note to parents: All of the paintings selected for the books in this series are child-friendly - but we aren't necessarily recommending all of the other paintings by these

This book includes a rich and fascinating consideration of the golden age of French printmaking. Once considered the golden age of French printmaking, Louis XIV's reign saw Paris become a powerhouse of print production. During this time, the king aimed to make fine and decorative arts into signs of French taste and skill and, by extension, into markers of his imperialist glory. Prints were ideal for achieving these goals; reproducible and transportable, they fueled the sophisticated propaganda machine circulating images of Louis as both a man of war and a man of culture. This richly illustrated catalogue features more than one hundred prints from the Getty Research Institute and the Bibliotheque nationale de France in Paris, whose print collection Louis XIV established in 1667. An esteemed international group of contributors investigates the ways that cultural policies affected printmaking; explains what constitutes a print; describes how one became a printmaker; studies how prints were collected; and considers their reception in the ensuing centuries.A Kingdom of Images is published to coincide with an exhibition on view at the Getty Research Institute from June 18 through September 6, 2015, and at the Bibliotheque nationale de France in Paris from November 2, 2015, through January 31, 2016.

One of the original books in the "Enjoying Great Art" series, but it has been enlarged - with more, and bigger paintings now: Animals are a part of our everyday life. But do we think of them when we think of great art? Here is a picture book for students of all ages...A picture book of animals in art Different colors, shapes, sizes...Some that are only small parts of the painting, some which are the focus of the painting. You can look through these paintings that span many centuries, and notice the similarities and the differences between them...See the colors, the textures and patterns, and more. Take note of whether there are people included in the different paintings, and if so, if men, women, or children are more often portrayed with the animals. And most of all, enjoy Note to parents: All of the paintings selected for the books in this series are child-friendly - but we aren't necessarily recommending all of the other paintings by these same artists If you and your children want to go exploring after this - please exercise caution.

Bridges are clearly important structures - and not just the ones of the present day (my apologies to Whitman). But do we think of them when we think of great art? Here is a picture book of bridges (from around the world) for students of all ages...Different colors, shapes, sizes...Some that are only small parts of the painting, some which are the focus of the painting.

There is no shortage of books and booklets about Leonardo da Vinci, including by this very author. So what makes this one different? This small, full-color book joins Catherine's growing set of "Enjoying Great Art" books that concentrate on the art itself, with very little verbal interruption. And just like the other booklets in this series, this one is in chronological order. But this booklet's focus is on the art of Leonardo da Vinci, showcasing each of the paintings currently attributed in part or in whole to the great master. It also includes a number of his sketches, which are also extremely artistic, and several paintings by other authors that relate to Leonardo da Vinci and his work. Maps, quotes, and "job" titles have been added to round out the extras included. So whether you are starting a study of Leonardo da Vinci or just looking for another great book to add to your da Vinci collection, you are likely to enjoy this little tribute to the genius of this one man - who packed much into his sixty-seven year life.

The volume, starting from the celebrated and fascinating Portrait of a Lady from the Poldi Pezzoli museum in Milan, one of the greatest masterpieces of Florentine portraiture from the latter half of the 15th century, investigates the art of the Pollaiolo brothers: Antonio, a goldsmith, painter and sculptor, and the most famous of the three; Piero, a painter; and Silvestro, who died young and was soon forgotten. Based on in- depth scientific analyses and research conducted on the methods of execution and materials used for the wide range of different works issued from the Pollaiolo brothers' workshop, the volume presents paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, bronzes, and objects of applied art.

The Hieroglyphenkunde by Karl Giehlow published in 1915, described variously by critics as "a masterpiece", "magnificent", "monumental" and "incomparable", is here translated into English for the first time. Giehlow's work with an initial focus on the Hieroglyphica of Horapollo, the manuscript of which was discovered by Giehlow, was a pioneering attempt to introduce the thesis that Egyptian hieroglyphics had a fundamental influence on the Italian literature of allegory and symbolism and beyond that on the evolution of all Renaissance art. The present edition includes the illustrations of Albrecht Durer from the Pirckheimer translation of the Horapollo from the early fifteenth century.

The Casa del Dean in Puebla, Mexico, is one of few surviving sixteenth-century residences in the Americas. Built in 1580 by Tomas de la Plaza, the Dean of the Cathedral, the house was decorated with at least three magnificent murals, two of which survive. Their rediscovery in the 1950s and restoration in 2010 revealed works of art that rival European masterpieces of the early Renaissance, while incorporating indigenous elements that identify them with Amerindian visual traditions.

Extensively illustrated with new color photographs of the murals, The Casa del Dean presents a thorough iconographic analysis of the paintings and an enlightening discussion of the relationship between Tomas de la Plaza and the indigenous artists whom he commissioned. Penny Morrill skillfully traces how native painters, trained by the Franciscans, used images from Classical mythology found in Flemish and Italian prints and illustrated books from France--as well as animal images and glyphic traditions with pre-Columbian origins--to create murals that are reflective of Don Tomas's erudition and his role in evangelizing among the Amerindians. She demonstrates how the importance given to rhetoric by both the Spaniards and the Nahuas became a bridge of communication between these two distinct and highly evolved cultures. This pioneering study of the Casa del Dean mural cycle adds an important new chapter to the study of colonial Latin American art, as it increases our understanding of the process by which imagery in the New World took on Christian meaning.

New, full-color, larger size book When did Leonardo da Vinci paint the Last Supper? Why did Leonardo paint the Last Supper? How did he paint the Last Supper? Was Leonardo's Last Supper the first rendition of the Last Supper? Was it the last? Here in one convenient location you will find the answers to these, and many other, questions - with dozens of beautiful pictures of paintings that came before and after Leonardo's Last Supper - as well as many details about how he painted his mural, and the history of it over the last 500 years. A treat for art and history buffs alike Note: This book focuses on Leonardo da Vinci's well-known version of the Last Supper, with some of the before and after versions included. For even more versions of the Last Supper (with less text and more pictures), see Catherine's In Art: The Last Supper book.

Another book in the "Enjoying Great Art" series: Self-Portraits - More than three dozen different self-portraits by artists from around the world and through the ages. Great fun for adults and students of all ages. (As with the other books in this series, all the paintings in this book are family-friendly - though, sadly, we can't say the same of all of the other paintings by the same artists.)

Word searches, drawings, quotes, and more...all arranged in both a topical and chronological order to help introduce students to the amazing work of Leonardo da Vinci. This book is a great compliment to Da Vinci: His Life and His Legacy, but it is also a great stand-alone title. Each topic - Leonardo the Mathematician, Leonardo and the Horse, Leonardo the Architect, and many others - includes a historical context and ideas for hands-on study of that topic. The ideas in the book have been classroom tested and kid-approved (This book includes everything from Catherine's Da Vinci Unit Study, Da Vinci Student Book, and more )

The newest book in the "Enjoying Great Art" series: Trains may or may not be part of our everyday life today. In fact, many of us think of them more in a historical setting. But how many of us think of them when we think of great art? Here is a picture book for adults and students of all ages...A picture book of trains in art - trains, train stations, passengers, and more. The paintings include different colors, shapes, and sizes. Look through these paintings that span almost exactly one century, and notice the similarities and the differences between them...