Abbeville Press

A fully illustrated price guide to vintage mechanical watches from more than 45 historically significant brands. Now in its third edition, Classic Wristwatches is the ultimate resource for information on vintage watches, that is, watches no longer in current production. For each of the 1,300 timepieces listed, the authors provide a color photograph; a description of the movement, case, and special features or historical significance; and an estimated value, based on recent auction results. They also forecast whether the value will increase, decrease, or remain the same. The watches are arranged alphabetically by manufacturer; the featured brands include mainstays like Rolex and Patek Philippe, as well as rarities like Record and Enicar.

Essential for every art lover — the definitive new book on Rodin's life and work. With more than 350 pictures, many never before seen, Rodin reveals, in great beauty and detail, the genius of the man known as the father of modern sculpture. The stories of Rodin's sculptures, well known for their sense of fluidity and movement, are told through each stage of development from paster casts to the glorious end result. A world-renowned expert in Rodin's work and a former curator at the Musee Rodin, Antoinette Le Normand-Romain enjoyed unprecedented access to Rodin's archives and the museum's collection in preparing this absorbing new study of the artist's life and works. She details the evolution of Rodin's artistic vision: from the frustration of his early career — he was denied entrance to the Ecole des Beaux Arts three times — to his first critical triumph with The Burghers of Calais to the twenty years he spent working on The Gates of Hell. Rodin also includes reproductions of the artist's numerous sketches, emphasizing his ability to capture human movement in two or three strokes of the pen and translate his sketches into final pieces that highlight the unique character of his subjects through their physicality. This new perspective on Rodin's oeuvre is accompanied by photographs that capture the astonishing details of his works, often in full and double-page spreads. The photography undertaken for the book showcases the well known — like The Kiss and The Thinker — and little seen treasures, including many of the artist's plaster models and studies. Images of works in different stages of composition, and of the same work in different versions, provide an intimate look at Rodin's artistic process. With these splendid illustrations accompanying Le Normand-Romain's insightful text, Rodin is the new authority on one of the world's greatest artists.

This is a magnificent new printing of this classic album of Norman Rockwell's best-loved works. Norman Rockwell gave us a picture of America that was familiar — astonishingly so — and at the same time unique, because only he could bring it to life with such authority. Rockwell best expressed this vision of America in his justly famous cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post, painted between 1916 and 1963. All of his Post covers are reproduced in splendid full color in this oversized volume, with commentaries by Christopher Finch, the noted writer on art and popular culture. In this latest printing of 332 Magazine Covers, the thumbnail images accompanying Finch's descriptive captions are printed in full color for the convenience of the reader, and the typography has been refreshed.

A deluxe, year-by-year chronicle of the Academy Awards, with an entertaining text, hundreds of star-studded photographs, and complete lists of the nominees and winners. 85 Years of the Oscar, newly revised and expanded, is the official history of the Academy Awards. Following an introductory chapter on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the birth of the Oscars, the book presents the story of each year's awards, beginning with the very first, for the years 1927-28. Author Robert Osborne surveys the movies in competition, recounts the speculation on various winners, and describes events during the awards ceremony. He also provides a complete listing of the all the nominees and winners in every category. Each year is illustrated with evocative stills from winning films and candid shots from the awards ceremony. Altogether, the book features more than 750 rare photographs, including original movie posters for every best picture. Drawing on Osborne's profound knowledge of film, the Academy's exceptional archives, and the personal reminiscences of stars from Katharine Hepburn to Clint Eastwood, 85 Years of the Oscar is unrivaled in illustration, accuracy, and completeness.

A sumptuously illustrated survey of the art and architecture of this prosperous Roman town, remarkably preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 Herculaneum, located on the picturesque Bay of Naples, was buried in the same volcanic eruption as its larger neighbor, Pompeii. But while Pompeii was covered by a relatively shallow layer of loose volcanic ash, Herculaneum was submerged in deep flows of hot volcanic mud, which preserved the upper stories of buildings, as well as organic materials like wooden furnishings and foodstuffs. This oversized volume opens with an account of the city's catastrophic destruction in AD 79, and of the excavations, underway since 1738, that have brought at least a part of its treasures back to light. It then surveys the principal public buildings and private residences that have been uncovered, including the famous Villa of the Papyri, perched to the northwest of the town. The splendid decoration of these ancient structures-in particular, their wall paintings-is presented as never before, thanks to an extensive photographic campaign carried out especially for this book. With these superb illustrations complementing an authoritative text, Herculaneum is sure to be welcomed by all students and enthusiasts of archaeology.

Producing a series of commissioned works for the church and upper classes in his native Tuscany and surrounding regions, Giotto changed the course of European art by breaking away from the rigid, stereotyped figures of the Byzantine and Giotto medieval traditions. This title provides a survey of Giotto's life and work.

Mosaic has been called «painting for eternity», and it is in fact one of the few arts of antiquity to survive in something like its original condition and variety. Mosaic pavements with geometric and figural motifs first appeared in Greece at the end of the fifth century BC and subsequently spread throughout the entire classical world, from the palaces of the Greco-Bactrian rulers of present-day Afghanistan to the villas of Roman Britain. Local workshops cultivated many distinctive regional styles, while traveling teams of Hellenistic craftsmen produced figural mosaics of stunning refinement, often modeled after famous paintings; indeed, their work constitutes one of our only records of classical Greek painting, which has been almost entirely lost. The styles and techniques of the ancient mosaicist’s art are given a concise yet authoritative exposition in the first part of this handsome volume. The second, and larger, part conducts the reader on a chronological tour of the most important centers of the art form’s development, from the Macedonian capital of Pella, whose compositions in natural pebbles set a high artistic standard for mosaics at the very beginning of their history, to the Basilica of San Vitale at Ravenna, whose wall and vault mosaics, with their glittering vision of a triumphant Christianity, mark the transition between antiquity and the Middle Ages. Special attention is given to Pompeii and its surroundings, where the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 preserved intact an astonishing variety of mosaics, including such ambitious figural scenes as the famous Alexander mosaic, composed of some four million miniscule tesserae, as well as characteristically Roman pavements in black and white, and the brightly colored wall mosaics of garden grottoes. Featuring more than two hundred newly commissioned photographs, Greek and Roman Mosaics is the first survey of its subject to be illustrated in full color. It will be a necessary addition to every art lover’s library, and a worthy companion to Abbeville’s Italian Mosaics: 300—1300. Umberto Pappalardo has served as Inspector of Excavations at Pompeii and Director of Excavations at Herculaneum. Rosaria Ciardiello, also a classical archaeologist, received her doctorate from the University of Naples Federico II. Luciano Pedicini, a second-generation photographer of antiquities, has contributed to numerous important publications.

In this volume, a team of noted Italian art historians trace the evolution of Renaissance intarsia through a discussion of twelve of the most important intarsia cycles. These include the famous studiolo of Federico da Montefeltro in the ducal palace at Urbino; the sacristy of Santa Maria in Organo at Verona, which Vasari described as the most beautiful in all of Italy; and the choir of Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo, the cartoons for which were prepared by Lorenzo Lotto. Drawing on the latest scholarship and, in some cases, newly discovered documentary evidence, the authors explain the historical context and iconography of these masterpieces, as well as their connections to the painting, sculpture, and architecture of the time. Their insightful essays are illustrated with some two hundred new color images, the result of an extensive photographic campaign carried out exclusively for this work.

With more than six hundred reproductions of illuminated manuscripts from the 4th to 16th centuries, this book provides an extensive look at the presence and significance of animals in medieval thought and art. The Medieval Bestiary explores the space between reality and myth; religious symbolism and political allegory; and man's combined fear of and admiration for animals both common and exotic. Many of the illuminated manuscripts shown in this book are barely known outside an intimate circle of medieval specialists, finally brought to light for a wider audience to appreciate and enjoy. In addition to its commentary on the visual depiction of beasts in medieval manuscripts, The Medieval Bestiary explores the literary context wherein the language of animal symbolism is explained, and where the categories of representation were first determined. Animals had different meanings in religious and popular texts, for example, and this book aims to underline the differences. Moreover, The Medieval Bestiary discusses how the establishment of animal symbolism in the Middle Ages spurred the growth and development of fable-writing, which made the animal world a veritable mirror of human society. The Medieval Bestiary provides a complete encyclopedic treatment of animals both real and imaginary, arranged alphabetically by each creature's name in Latin.

Bonsai trees, with a strong heritage in Japanese tradition, are the artistic miniatures of the plant world. Combining the natural and the artificial, they are as intricate as they are delicate. Each bonsai, in addition to resembling a full-size tree, must adhere to Japanese aesthetics of design and presentation, determined by centuries of example. In other words, bonsai are living sculptures. In this book, acclaimed photographer Jonathan M. Singer showcases over 300 photographs of bonsai taken in some of the most respected private and public collections in the United States and Japan. Most notably, Singer was granted special permission to photograph the collection of the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Japan, considered the Mecca of bonsai, where photography is normally prohibited. He is the first (and only) photographer in the world to shoot the most famed bonsai trees in Japan, some of which received the coveted Prime Minister's Award. Singer also had the opportunity to capture the work of Masahiko Kimura, thought to be the most skilled bonsai designer in the world, and artist Seiji Morimae, whose family has worked in horticulture for over 500 years. Among the American bonsai collections photographed in Bonsai are the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection (Seattle, WA), the Golden State Bonsai Federation Collection South (Pasadena, CA), and the International Bonsai Arboretum (Rochester, NY). Whereas most books on bonsai aim to instruct readers on techniques of care and cultivation, Singer's book takes the reader on a visual journey that focuses on the aesthetic beauty of each featured tree. Alluring and serene, Singer's photographs make the experience of leafing through Bonsai not unlike entering a real Japanese garden.

From its ancient status as the jewel of an empire to its modern incarnation as a troubled, yet culturally vibrant European capital, Rome has compelled the imagination of artists for over two thousand years. This title guides the reader through the history of the Eternal City, from its humble origins to the cultural explosion of the Renaissance.

Investigates why so many modern artists of Jewish descent continued to paint the human form even as the avant-garde movement vigorously promoted abstraction. This title analyses the work of a range of Jewish artists, including the painters of the Ecole de Paris; the American social realists; and, the masters of the postwar School of London.

The exciting recent rediscovery in Spain of a missing canvas by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (ca. 1525-69) has jolted a revived public awareness of the great Flemish painter and his work. Best known for his amusing depictions of peasants, landscapes, and Bosch-like fantasies, Bruegel also created a wide range of highly original interpretations of religious themes in an era marked by religious controversies. Over a career of two decades as both a printmaker and a painter, he found his artistic niche in Europe's leading center of international trade, the emerging capital of capitalism, Antwerp. All of Bruegel's drawings, prints, and paintings on both canvas and panel — including the new Madrid canvas — are examined for form and content with comprehensive analysis. In addition, interpretation of the full range of Flemish paintings and prints during his generation is presented through the lens of Hieronymus Cock, Bruegel's own print publisher, At the Sign of the Four Winds . Within this spectrum Bruegel's uniqueness and mastery emerges clearly. While scholars will appreciate the novel insights of this comprehensive re-examination of Pieter Bruegel, its highly accessible text will introduce newcomers and the general public to the delights of this inventive, trenchant, yet often amusing visual commentator on the human condition. All readers will relish the large-scale reproductions and frequent details in full color of his entire oeuvre in all media. This handsome, largescale volume will form the definitive study and accessible introduction to the life and art of Pieter Bruegel.

One of Victorian England's most charismatic figures, Dante Gabriel Rossetti painted and wrote with equal passion. This volume chronicles Rossetti's life and career from his early achievements as a founder of the influential Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, through his involvement with William Morris's design firm, to the unorthodox images of his final years.

»Will appeal to anyone who loves either photography or sports. For those who love both, it is a little bit of paradise.»

From the caves at Lascaux to the European race tracks of Degas to the American West of Frederic Remington, the horse has never ceased to inspire the human imagination. Once omnipresent — on the battlefield, in agricultural work, and in transport — horses have little by little disappeared from our immediate environment, but they remain fixtures throughout our museums, atop pedestals in our town squares, and in the landscapes of memory. Transcending genres, places, and eras, specialists on the history of the horse and its representation in art create an ideal panorama on the subject, guiding us through the rich legacy of The Horse: From Cave Paintings to Modern Art. With these scholars we cross the principal continents from east to west and from prehistory to the present day, examining an ever-surprising gallery of images that illustrate how dearly horses have been prized by all human societies fortunate enough to encounter them. The artistic styles represented in this book offer something for every taste. There are cave paintings and sculptures, medieval illuminated manuscripts and photographs, depictions of battle, and scenes of leisure. Uccello, Rubens, Van Dyck, Velasquez, Gericault, Stubbs, David, and Picasso are among the 137 artists featured in this in-depth study. As the more than 300 images in The Horse diversely illustrate, the horse is as beautiful an animal as it has been useful — indeed, central — to the development of human society.

For four decades film historian Ira M.Resnick has been amassing a superb collection of 2,000 vintage movie posters and 1,500 stills, which has never before been published. In Starstruck he has selected forty stills and some two hundred of his best posters, organized in five sections: celebrated actresses and actors; renowned directors; classic films; and unremarkable movies with great graphic posters. Resnick's witty text includes anecdotes about how he managed to acquire such stellar film artwork, as well as information about the stars and films shown on the pieces he collected. The back matter includes 'Advice for the Collector'. Starstruck is a must-have book for collectors and film buffs.

Pop Art was one of the most important artistic movements of the late twentieth century. Its adaptation of mediated, popular-culture imagery continues to influence artists, but until now, little attention has been paid to the important contributions that women made to the movement. Pop Art by women dealt less with direct consumerist critiques, instead subversively combating the stereotypical perceptions of women via advertising and film cliches. Work by women Pop artists ranges from Rosalyn Drexler's surreal film-noir riffs, Idelle Weber's New Realism office workers, and Niki de Saint Phalle's exuberant Nanas to the more controversial and blatantly political statements of Faith Ringgold and Martha Rosler. Pauline Boty and Axell explored female desire, while the innovative soft structures stitched by Yayoi Kusama, Jann Haworth, Patty Mucha, and others form an important contribution to the history of sculpture. Seductive Subversion: Women Pop Artists 1958-1968 is the catalogue of the first exhibition to expand Pop Art's narrow critical definition to reflect the significant role of these women artists. The culmination of six years of research by Sid Sachs, this exhibition, organized by the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery of the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, is touring nationally. The essays in this catalogue span from London's Independent Group in the early 1950s to the end of classic Pop in 1968. Written by the art historians Linda Nochlin, Sid Sachs, Kalliopi Minioudaki, Bradford R. Collins, Annika Ohrner, and Sue Tate and the artists Martha Rosler and Patty Mucha, these texts will be revelations and will remain a vital reference for artists, art and cultural historians, and feminists alike. Artworks by more than twenty artists are reproduced, including Pauline Boty, Chryssa, Rosalyn Drexler, Jann Haworth, Yayoi Kusama, and Marisol, as well as now lesser-known figures such as Barbro Ostlihn and Dorothy Grebenak. Numerous works are discussed in depth from a number of vantage points.

Each year brings hundreds of new wristwatch designs, with aesthetic and mechanical changes and improvements, limited edition watches, and new producers, keeping this field exciting for collectors. This thirteenth edition of what has become a watch industry classic features over 1,400 of the world's most luxurious wristwatches and provides color photographs and complete specifications for each watch. With Wristwatch Annual 2010, collectors have a wealth of information close at hand: the book is arranged alphabetically by producer, and within each producer's section are specifications and materials for each watch, including price, movement, special features, complications, case, dial, band, and available variations of a particular model. A glossary and pronunciation guide help acclimate the reader to the world of fine timepieces, and, for prospective buyers, the addresses of all featured producers are listed together. The elegant photography and layout will encourage people to peruse the year's offerings for aesthetic appeal as well. The range of styles, from classic to modern, reflects the inclusive nature of this book, which watch collectors the world over will find both a handy reference and required reading.

A new and revised edition of this most comprehensive book on the life and work of Caravaggio published to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Caravaggio`s birth in July 2010.

This first comprehensive survey in recent times of the surving fresco cycles of the early Renaissance, this path-blazing work is an extraordinary achievement in scholarship and publishing.

Ever since Roger Fenton inaugurated the genre by photographing the Crimean War in 1855, the worlds great photojournalists have used a variety of approaches to bear witness to their times. At one end of the photojournalistic spectrum are war photographers like Robert Capa and Larry Burrows, who capture the most extreme events of human existence as they happen; at the other are social documentarians like Lewis Hine and Sebastião Salgado, who step back from the single dramatic incident to cover in depth such economic and cultural issues as labor and migration. By compiling 250 of the most memorable images from photojournalism’s 150-year history, «Photojournalism 1855 to the Present: Editor’s Choice» provides a fascinating introduction to the entire range of the field. Author Reuel Golden, a noted authority on photojournalism, selected the fifty-four photographers featured in this book based on their critical reputations and historical importance. For each photographer, Golden provides a portfolio of representative images—many reproduced at full-page size—as well as a brief biography and an insightful critical commentary on his or her career. In these commentaries and in his informative introduction, Golden discusses the particular challenges of photojournalism, such as the relationship between photographer and subject, and the moral ramifications of aestheticizing human suffering. Yet perhaps most importantly, his text also encourages the reader to look closer and discover how well the photographs speak for themselves. From Frank Hurley’s groundbreaking World War I battlefield shots to Mary Ellen Mark’s stark portraits of American poverty and James Nachtwey’s haunting pictures of the September 11 attacks, the images in this book prove that even in our era of twenty-four-hour video-on demand, the still photograph remains as powerful as ever.

With hundreds of photographs and an informative text, 80 Years of the Oscar takes readers behind the scenes, from the first awards show in 1928 to this year's 80th anniversary.

Rejecting the historical and literary subjects of the prevailing styles as too remote from actual experience, Courbet depicted scenes from everyday life, almost the peasants and the working class, with a naturalism then considered shocking. This monograph provides an understanding of how Courbet`s life and and mileau shaped his vast ouevre.