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Great Paintings
A sumptuous, visual guided tour of 66 of the world's greatest paintings, each examined in unrivaled depth.
Ranging from works by Zhang Zeduan, a 12th-century Chinese master, to modern masterpieces by Rothko and Anselm Kiefer, this book provides an excellent visual introduction to the history of art in chronological order. Alongside a magnificent gallery of iconic paintings with more than 700 full-color photographs, the story behind each painting is fully explained, unlocking the meanings of symbols and historical details. Artists' biographies and features on historical and social context explore how landmark paintings were influenced by what went before them, and how they went on to inspire future artists. Paintings are analyzed visually through close-up details to help the reader understand the key features, composition, and techniques. Reading Great Paintings is like being taken around a gallery by a personal guide who helps you look at paintings--both familiar and new--in fresh and fascinating ways.
Ranging from works by Zhang Zeduan, a 12th-century Chinese master, to modern masterpieces by Rothko and Anselm Kiefer, this book provides an excellent visual introduction to the history of art in chronological order. Alongside a magnificent gallery of iconic paintings with more than 700 full-color photographs, the story behind each painting is fully explained, unlocking the meanings of symbols and historical details. Artists' biographies and features on historical and social context explore how landmark paintings were influenced by what went before them, and how they went on to inspire future artists. Paintings are analyzed visually through close-up details to help the reader understand the key features, composition, and techniques. Reading Great Paintings is like being taken around a gallery by a personal guide who helps you look at paintings--both familiar and new--in fresh and fascinating ways.
256 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2018
31 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Publishing
9,124 books2,072 followersDorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 14, 2020
Should be renamed as “Great Paintings: The West’s Masterpieces Explored and Explained” rather than “The World’s” because it focuses mainly on western painting (there were only 2 Asian paintings).
July 2, 2023
I now have six new favourite paintings.
1. The Arnolfini Portrait
2. The school of Athens
3. Netherlandish Proverbs
4. Still life with flowers and fruit
5. An experiment on a Bird in the Air pump
6. Nighthawks
1. The Arnolfini Portrait
2. The school of Athens
3. Netherlandish Proverbs
4. Still life with flowers and fruit
5. An experiment on a Bird in the Air pump
6. Nighthawks
Read
March 3, 2024Paintings that date from 1100-present. Great explanations of the different and highly influential paintings. Each page includes:
- The title of the painting
- The artist who painted it
- Location of the painting (for those who’d want to travel and gaze at such glory)
- A snapshot artist biography
- Brilliant visual tours that zoom in different parts of the painting to provide detailed insights of the symbolism and what others might have missed when looking at it
- What type of painting it actually is (e.g - Fresco/Oil on Panel/Tempera on Canvas etc.)
- A quote from those who admire it.
It’s well set out and fluent, making it a joy to explore and maintains an efficient level of interest and sense of wonder.
The only criticism is that the featured paintings were predominantly from western countries. A more widespread inclusion of art from all around the world would have been beneficial addition to the book.
Overall, an extremely interesting and beautiful lure into the realm of art for anyone who’s even faintly interested!
- The title of the painting
- The artist who painted it
- Location of the painting (for those who’d want to travel and gaze at such glory)
- A snapshot artist biography
- Brilliant visual tours that zoom in different parts of the painting to provide detailed insights of the symbolism and what others might have missed when looking at it
- What type of painting it actually is (e.g - Fresco/Oil on Panel/Tempera on Canvas etc.)
- A quote from those who admire it.
It’s well set out and fluent, making it a joy to explore and maintains an efficient level of interest and sense of wonder.
The only criticism is that the featured paintings were predominantly from western countries. A more widespread inclusion of art from all around the world would have been beneficial addition to the book.
Overall, an extremely interesting and beautiful lure into the realm of art for anyone who’s even faintly interested!
January 30, 2020
*This review can also be found on my blog, The Never-Ending TBR Pile: https://wendylohr.wordpress.com/2019/...
This is a great introductory book to the many styles/genres of art as well as artists throughout the centuries or it could be a great quick reference book. I liked the tidbits of information about each artist, about the paintings themselves, and the analysis of each painting. And the paintings themselves are well-presented in the high-res photographs provided for analysis. There was just enough information to have piqued my curiosity about several artists I was unfamiliar with before reading this as well as some of the greats that I've always admired. So I'll be looking for books that relate to those individual artists and their works to satisfy my growing curiosity!
This is a great introductory book to the many styles/genres of art as well as artists throughout the centuries or it could be a great quick reference book. I liked the tidbits of information about each artist, about the paintings themselves, and the analysis of each painting. And the paintings themselves are well-presented in the high-res photographs provided for analysis. There was just enough information to have piqued my curiosity about several artists I was unfamiliar with before reading this as well as some of the greats that I've always admired. So I'll be looking for books that relate to those individual artists and their works to satisfy my growing curiosity!
November 22, 2022
A delightful overview and explanation of various paintings and their artists. It was nice to get a little more familiar with some I knew and see some new ones. This kind of book always brings me back to college in a good way!
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June 17, 2022What really makes a painting 'great'? Most of the paintings mentioned are western for some reason
November 17, 2020
What a great book! The book runs chronologically through great developments in art and artists beginning in 1100. The paintings are shown as you would see them and on a following page or two sections are taken out and explained. Each painting contains a bio of the artists. Some have added blurbs on artistic techniques.
I absolutely loved this book and would want to read it again at some later date. I took my time paging through it to absorb the incredible amount of information contained in it.
I very highly recommend it.
I absolutely loved this book and would want to read it again at some later date. I took my time paging through it to absorb the incredible amount of information contained in it.
I very highly recommend it.
May 5, 2020
Allow me to collect my thoughts to some extent bc I've really enjoy reading or rather [viewing] this b00k!
August 11, 2020
I’m new to the study of art, but I loved this book. Fantastic intro to classic paintings.
January 9, 2022
A great book to have
February 9, 2022
Good selection of paintings and great explanations about the context, the details, and artists
March 14, 2022
Good introductory book, definitely want to explore some of these artists a bit more.
June 24, 2025
По-добре да се прочете в оригинал, изданието на изд. Буктрейдинг е без коректори, следователно объркване в превода, и наличие на много граматични и пунктуационни грешки.
October 4, 2023
A needed book for art education
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews