|
Books > Arts & Architecture > Art forms, treatments & subjects > Art treatments & subjects > Iconography, subjects depicted in art > Nature in art, still life, landscapes & seascapes
The Camelopard, The Monstrous Pig, The Famous Porcupine, Durer's
Rhinoceros: these are but a few of the beautiful and bizarre
creatures that feature in this delightful book. In the visual arts
of the fifteenth to the early nineteenth centuries in Europe,
animals were understood in relation to the human world, whether as
animals of the farm, estate or household, beasts of burden or as
diversions in menageries and travelling shows. At the same time,
rapidly increasing investigation of the natural world engaged
artists in the problems of accurate representation: prints were
particularly important in distributing natural historical
information (or misinformation) across a wide, international
audience. This beautifully illustrated book explores perceptions of
the natural world as seen through the eyes of imaginative artists:
works by Goya, Stubbs and Bewick stand alongside prints by
lesser-known artists, each selected for its graphic strength, charm
and narrative interest. Featured are natural history studies,
masterpieces from the British Museum's exceptional collection of
classical old master prints, book illustrations, satires and
popular prints to beautifully capture the diversity and appeal of
early modern print culture. Visually stunning, entertaining and
intriguing, this book explores humankind's enduring curiosity about
the animal world.
Nothing makes a fantasy fan's imagination catch fire like the
dragon, one of the most enduringly popular beasts of legend. Now,
with DragonArt, readers can learn how to bring these mythical
creatures to life, with: More than 30 lessons broken down into
simple colour-coded steps, from basic shapes, to details including
claws and wings, to spectacular finished dragons and beasts
Full-coloured illustrations to captivate and inspire readers A
playful, engaging text that includes "historical facts about
dragons" Additional step-by-step demonstrations covering other
fantasy creatures, such as wyverns, basilisks and gargoyles Extra
hints, tips & tricks provided by DragonArt's dragon mascot,
Dolosus With the tips and suggestions in DragonArt, fantasy lovers
can let their imaginations soar.
Following official protection of natural environments for public
benefit in Fontainebleau Forest in France (1861) and in Yosemite
(1864) and Yellowstone (1872) in the USA, the New Forest Act of
1877 marked the first major instance in Britain. Art and artists
were involved in this achievement to a greater extent than in all
preceding cases. For the first time, and within an ecocritical
framework, this study examines the role played by art during the
previous anti-enclosure campaign - highlighting both the
hitherto-unacknowledged extent of German influence in terms of the
original artistic initiative and of German artists' participation
in the cause, as well as the significance of connections between
landscape art of the day and priorities of the early Open Spaces
movement. Ecocriticism in art history With works by the German and
British artists George Bouverie Goddard, Wilhelm Kumpel, Alfred
Pizzi Newton, Wilhelm Trautschold, Edmund George Warren
The book brings together and shows for the first time ever striking
botanical art of Indian origin spanning a period of three hundred
years, focussing in particular on the 18th and 19th centuries.
Drawn mostly from original works held in the collections of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, some of the paintings have never been
published before. They showcase not only the wealth of the Indian
sub-continent flora but the richness and variety of artworks,
commissioned from mostly unknown Indian artists, who made a
substantial contribution to the documentation of plants of
economic, ornamental and cultural importance.
Cats playing a quiet game of cards, cats at the ballet, cats having
a leisurely lunch on the grass, cats boating on the river... Here
are the quintessential Impressionist cats, painted with vivid,
joyous colours in their favourite haunts, at their ease in various
ordinary activities. With their pensive, brooding expressions, cats
lend themselves perfectly to reimagining the great works of the
Impressionist masters, whether strolling among Monet's wild
poppies, sitting in Mary Cassatt's loge at the opera, or even
enjoying a Sunday dance at Renoir's Bougival. They can be charming
or steeped in mute despair, vulgar or lovingly maternal, bourgeois
or intellectual - but they are always Impressionist cats, caught as
if by the camera, spontaneous and unprepared.
Send greetings to loved ones with the friendly forest creatures in
this set of delightful boxed notecards. It's the perfect gift for
animal lovers. Our best-selling QuickNotes are smaller than
notecards but large enough to convey personal greetings, thank-yous
and invitations. 20 notecards, 5 each of 4 images. 20 envelopes.
Magnetic closure. Sturdy, reuseable box, ideal for keepsakes.
How the nature illustrations of a Renaissance polymath reflect his
turbulent age This pathbreaking and stunningly illustrated book
recovers the intersections between natural history, politics, art,
and philosophy in the late sixteenth-century Low Countries. Insect
Artifice explores the moment when the seismic forces of the Dutch
Revolt wreaked havoc on the region's creative and intellectual
community, compelling its members to seek solace in intimate
exchanges of art and knowledge. At its center is a neglected
treasure of the late Renaissance: the Four Elements manuscripts of
Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600), a learned Netherlandish merchant,
miniaturist, and itinerant draftsman who turned to the study of
nature in this era of political and spiritual upheaval. Presented
here for the first time are more than eighty pages in color
facsimile of Hoefnagel's encyclopedic masterwork, which showcase
both the splendor and eccentricity of its meticulously painted
animals, insects, and botanical specimens. Marisa Anne Bass unfolds
the circumstances that drove the creation of the Four Elements by
delving into Hoefnagel's writings and larger oeuvre, the works of
his friends, and the rich world of classical learning and empirical
inquiry in which he participated. Bass reveals how Hoefnagel and
his colleagues engaged with natural philosophy as a means to
reflect on their experiences of war and exile, and found refuge
from the threats of iconoclasm and inquisition in the manuscript
medium itself. This is a book about how destruction and violence
can lead to cultural renewal, and about the transformation of
Netherlandish identity on the eve of the Dutch Golden Age.
A delightfully quirky, cute, and funny guide to horoscopes told through adorable dog photographs.
With the help of a collection of sweet and hilarious dog pictures, Dogstrology will unlock all the secrets of the stars that you need to know, including:
- Each of the signs at their best and worst (and the perfect pup to illustrate them)
- The common traits of each element and modality in the zodiac
- What do you and your "sister sign" have in common? Find out, with the perfect dog photo to complement it.
- And of course: the right dog for you, based on your star sign!
Now available in a new, large single volume with an appendix also
listing the modern plant names, this classic collection by "the
Audubon of botany" features more than 250 exquisite reproductions
of Walcott's celebrated watercolors of wildflower life in the
United States of America and Canada. Published in association with
the Smithsonian Institution What does it take to paint a wildflower
that blooms for a single day in a deep forest? For Mary Vaux
Walcott, it involved spending up to seventeen hours a day out of
doors with her paintbox to capture the shape, movement, and colors
of delicate petals and leaves. Originally published in 1925 to
enormous acclaim in five, oversized volumes, Walcott's sketches
introduced the diversity and beauty of North American plants to the
general public. A selection of some of the most stunning
illustrations are now available in a single volume, these
illustrations have lost none of their beauty or realism. Walcott's
technique involved precise attention to detail, color, light, and
perspective. Her art can also be appreciated as the work of a woman
scientist battling the prejudices against her sex of the day. She
was an intrepid explorer, skilled geologist, and generous
benefactor to the Smithsonian Institution at a time when women's
accomplishments were often overlooked or misattributed. As
inspirational and informative as they are a pleasure for the eyes,
this bouquet of nature's fleeting gifts is a lasting treasure of
botanic and scientific artistry.
"The book is packed with step-by-step guides on drawing and
painting techniques, colour mixing and clever compositions, it is
an invaluable source of ideas for anyone wanting to develop their
flower painting skills." - SAA Billy Showell's exquisite and
technically brilliant watercolour flower portraits are beautifully
presented in this highly informative, lavishly illustrated book.
First published in 2009 and now back by popular demand in
paperback, it provides the reader with valuable information on the
brushes, paints, paper and other equipment they need, together with
detailed guidance on drawing and painting techniques, colour mixing
and composition. Learn how to paint white flowers, leaves and
stems; add shadows; and create stamen, carpels, veins and texture.
The book finishes with four stunning step-by-step projects to
practice and consolidate your newly-acquired skills. This is an
invaluable source of information and inspiration for anyone who
wants to develop their flower painting skills.
|
|