The Han Emperors struggled between a policy of waging war against the Hsiung Nu or passive defense with diplomacy. [ p 27 The Pattern of…
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Tag: Art History (Books)
Vermeer
Johannes Vermeer’s oeuvre consists of a mere 36 paintings. But the sheer quality of these paintings resulted in the current exhibition of 28 of his…
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Saving China’s imperial treasures
There are 2 excellent books on how the Chinese saved their imperial treasures from the Japanese invaders. They are The Odyssey of China’s Imperial Art…
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Scholarly book – Van Eyck
If there is one piece of art you wish to contemplate this Easter Sunday 2021, the Ghent altarpiece is an excellent choice. It vividly illustrates…
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Botticelli: Masters of Italian Art
This book on the great Florentine artist has sufficient details on his life and includes many of his paintings including the 3 frescos on the…
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Wonderful book – Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei
This is a very good book. The paper and pictures are of a very high quality. The explanation of each painting or artefact is very…
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Coffee table book – Arts of Diplomacy: Lewis and Clark’s Indian Collection
This beautifully illustrated coffee table book was commissioned in 1997 to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery of May1804…
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A must read – Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting
Chinese paintings are unique as the artist has to combine his skill in painting with a flair for calligraphy, a knowledge of Chinese writing characters…
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A treasure trove – In the Picture: The Year Through Art
This book is for all art lovers. Each painting and its accompanying essay is selected to suit a particular month and its festival or season.…
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Caravaggio
A visit to Naples is not complete if one does not see Caravaggio’s The Seven Acts of Mercy {painted in 1606/07} and The Martyrdom of…
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