The story of the illustrated book from the earliest printed books
to the present day, told through the collections of the V&A's
National Art Library. Throughout history, images have been used to
reflect the meaning of words and to enhance our understanding of
texts. With the invention of mechanized printing in Germany in the
15th century, illustrated books were no longer the preserve of the
elite and became a source of knowledge, instruction and pleasure
for a wider audience. Traditional accounts of the illustrated book
survey its history in terms of technological advances, from
illumination to hand-drawn illustrations and photography. This
study offers a new approach, grouping books by subject - from
natural history and travel to art, architecture and fashion.
Gathered here are some of the most influential and compelling
examples of the illustrated book, all chosen from the collections
of the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum,
London. Each chapter starts with a general introduction to the
subject, followed by key examples accompanied by narrative
captions. The commentaries range beyond the illustrations to
consider the whole book, the design, typeface, binding, inks and
papers. Many of the books are not on display to the public and have
been specially photographed for this volume. Most examples have
been chosen for their significance, being innovative and beautiful.
But humble books, often overlooked in histories, have also been
selected, when particularly effective in their field, or simply
memorable. From beautiful printed Psalters and Books of Hours, to
striking natural history books such as Audubon's Birds of America,
La Fontaine's Fables illustrated by Marc Chagall, Serlio's treatise
on architecture and Owen Jones's Grammar of Ornament, this book
gives a fascinating overview of some of the finest illustrated
books ever created. In the face of recent pronouncements about the
death of the printed book, this volume demonstrates the enduring
appeal of the illustrated book.
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