ACC Distribution

The Ashmolean Museum's collection of British drawings and watercolours is undoubtedly one of the richest in the world, covering the work of British artists both celebrated and less well-know from 1650 to the present day. Over 130 works are discussed here in this fully illustrated catalogue, including a dozen works loaned from private collections. The full richness of the Ashmolean's collection is reflected here with drawings from the mid-seventeenth century through to the present day. Works by renowned masters including Rowlandson, Gainsborough, Blake, Palmer, Girtin, J. M. W. Turner, Edward Lear, Ruskin, and the Pre-Raphaelites feature, together with works from the twentieth century including Augustus John, Paul Nash, Walter Sickert and the Camden Town Group, Eric Kennington, Eric Ravilious, Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, Wyndham Lewis, Ronald Searle, Gerald Scarfe, and David Hockney. Great British Drawings reveals the full breadth of achievement and inventiveness of British artists in all drawing media, from pencil, to pen and ink, to watercolour, as well as the fascinating history of British art over the course over three and a half centuries.

Young. Low-cost. Witty. Sexy. And again, according to the historic definition given by the British artist Richard Hamilton, massproduced and a prolific source of business: Pop Art, with its emblematic entertwining of glamour and commodification, represents one of the most valuable expressions of the ebullient postwar America. A fluorescent, mechanical, voyeuristic form of art, which Andy Warhol, a symbol of the unrestrained American dream himself, incarnates as its leading, magnetic figure. From the obsessive reproductions of glazed Hollywood stars to the chicken soup cans, from the skulls turned into lilac and mint green icons to the floral stereotypes, up to the late reinterpretations of Renaissance frescoes, the exhibition and accompanying catalogue gather more than 160 surprising works, coming from the rich Brant Foundation, Connecticut. Warhol retraces the sparkling career of a master of contemporary art: as venerated as his Marilyn, as controversial as his Mao, and as universally famous as Coca-Cola. Published to accompany an exhibition at Palazzo Cipolla, Rome, from the 18th of April to the 28th of September 2014.

Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923) first achieved major international success with his painting Otra Margarita! (Another Marguerite!) (1892), for which he received first prize at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. This painting was also the first work by the Spanish artist to enter an American institution when it was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts (today the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum) at Washington University in St. Louis in 1894. Sorolla's fame in America grew; in 1909, more than 150,000 visitors attended an exhibition of Sorolla's art at The Hispanic Society of America in New York in 1909. Furthermore, the artist was invited to the White House to paint the portrait of President William Howard Taft. The landmark exhibition of 1909 was followed two years later by another major show of more than 150 of his paintings held at the Art Institute of Chicago and the St. Louis Art Museum. Sorolla and America explores the artist's relationship with early twentieth century America through the lens of those who commissioned him, those who collected his works, and those artists, such as John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase, with whom Sorolla closely associated. Particular attention is dedicated to the artist's association with The Hispanic Society of America and with key figures like Archer Milton Huntington and Thomas Fortune Ryan.

This first book by famous textile artist Mister Finch is a gorgeous collection of the artist's fantastical, one-of-a-kind creatures. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, as well as British folklore, Finch mingles fairytales and reality to create a magical world all his own. Peek inside Finch's Yorkshire studio, a place brimming with buttons and scraps of fabric, where spindly-legged spiders keep watch over mischievous hares and carpet-winged moths perch majestically atop bookshelves. Finch's critters have been called wonderfully peculiar and completely charming, a joy for the eye and the soul. Many of these pieces were born of treasures lost and forgotten: velvet curtains from an old hotel, a threadbare wedding dress and a vintage apron become birds and beasts, looking for new owners and adventures. The pages of this book are strewn with creatures who prove that anything is possible in the fairytale world of Mister Finch.

Terry O'Neill is one of the world's most celebrated and collected photographers. No one has captured the frontline of fame so broadly — and for so long. Terry O'Neill's Rock 'n' Roll Album contains some of the most famous and powerful music photographs of all time. At the same time the book includes many intimate personal photos taken behind the scenes and at private functions. Terry O'Neill photographed the giants of the music world — both on and off stage. For more than fifty years he captured those on the frontline of fame in public and in private. David Bowie, Elton John, Led Zepplin, Amy Winehouse, Dean Martin, The Who, Janis Joplin, AC/DC, Eric Clapton, Sammy Davis Jnr., The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Berry and The Beatles — to name only a few. O' Neill spent more than 30 years photographing Frank Sinatra as his personal photographer with unprecedented access to the star. He took some of the earliest known photographs of The Beatles and then forged a lifetime relationship with members of the band that allowed him to photograph their weddings and other private moments. It is this contrast between public and private that makes Terry O'Neill's Rock 'n' Roll Album such a powerful document. Without a doubt, Terry O'Neill's work comprises a vital chronicle of rock 'n' roll history. To any fan of music or photography this book will be a must buy.

The artworks in this book show the history of the car from its creation up until the start of the 1970s. The posters have been chosen for their importance, rarity, beauty and innovation, as well as for what they represent in terms of significant historical, technical and artistic stages of the motor car. They showcase the work of the designers and illustrators who constantly strove to come up with new ideas and styles to match the technological progress of famous names such as Peugeot, Mercedes Daimler, Renault, Citroen, Bugatti, Buick, Fiat, Rolls Royce and Chrysler, as well as others that are less well-known nowadays. As the cars developed, so the daredevil drivers and entrepreneurs found increasingly daring exploits with which to show off their prowess and endurance. Emmanuel Lopez charts the history of car racing from early competitions such as the Paris-Rouen in 1894, which saw steam-driven carriages going head-to-head with petrol engines over a 126 km course, through the start of international races and on to the Grand Prix, the rise of circuits such as the Nurburgring and the legendary Le Mans 24-hour Race. Not to be forgotten are the innovations that enabled cars to become better and better: Michelin's pneumatic tyres, Gentilhomme's car horns, brakes by Boyriven and Triplex windscreens. Alongside these, developments in petrol and engine oil were equally important in making the motor car both a must-have for travel and an enthralling spectacle when racing. It was not just the cars that changed during this time; the illustrative styles did too. The work of artists such as Berhard, de Valerio, Cappiello, Cassandre, Cheret, Ernst, Falucci, Gaudy, Grun, Hohlwein, McKnight Kauffer, Pal, Privat-Livemont and Rochegrosse shows the important variety of styles used by illustrators in this era and brings the wonderful cars and races to life in vivid colour.

Reports of its death were exaggerated but persistent in the art world; in mid-twentieth century America, everyone seemed to agree that portraiture was finished as a progressive art form. A groundbreaking reassessment of the reinvention of portraiture in America between 1945 and 1975 — the period when the abstract expressionists reached international prominence — this new volume presents fifty-five innovative portrait paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures. It features works by Joan Brown, Alice Neel, Elaine de Kooning, Larry Rivers, Marisol Escobar, Alex Katz, Romare Bearden, Fairfield Porter, Jamie Wyeth, and Andy Warhol, amongst others. Features a poem by leading New York School poet John Ashberry specially commissioned for this book.

Hollywood Cats showcases an incredible selection of photographs, taken during the golden age of Hollywood, of stars with their cats, celebrating and documenting this special relationship. Both Carole Lombard and Greer Garson manage to look even more sultry draped alongside their feline friends; photographs of madcap duo Laurel and Hardy playing with a kitten are both comical and endearing. Perhaps the most famous and arguably the most important of all Hollywood cats is the MGM lion, Leo, who appeared (and still appears) on every MGM movie.

The idea for this book was born in the course of a visit through the Louvre, when Catherine Belanger ventured to call the Louvre the biggest brothel in the world. Jointly with author Jean Galard and photographer Lois Lammerhuber, she selected key paintings spanning five centuries to illustrate the fascinating art of depicting nudity and the artists' struggle for acceptance of the nude in art and society. Lois Lammerhuber detaches the nudity, sensuality and sexuality of the paintings from the context of their artistic intention, conceiving them as material in a fictional photography studio and recreating them in his photographs. He resorts to these models to translate them into the language of fashion, nude and advertising photography, reading their body language and interaction in a way reminiscent of artists like Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Horst P. Horst or Herb Ritts — sensual and unexpected. Text in English & French.

The idea for this book was born in the course of a stroll through the Louvre, when Catherine Belanger ventured to call the Louvre the biggest brothel in the world. Key works illustrate the artistic approach and the representation of the nude in the Western world from the 7th century BC to 1897. Lois Lammerhuber detaches the nudity, sensuality and sexuality of the sculptures from the context of their artistic intention, conceiving them as material in a fictional photography studio and recreating them in his photographs. He resorts to these models to translate them into the language of fashion, nude and advertising photography — sensual and unexpected. The images are accompanied by Jean Galard's reflections on this approach from an art-historical and philosophical angle. In its design the book is reminiscent of bronze and refers to the haptic character of sculpture. Text in English & French.

A brand new interiors book, by Piet Swimberghe and Jan Velinde, showcasing beautiful living spaces. Text in English, French and Dutch.

The exhibition is divided into different parts, the first (Section I: The Legacy of the Fathers) exploring the rediscovery of ancient art in the 13th and 14th centuries by the likes of Nicola Pisano, Arnolfo and their successors. It then looks into the assimilation of Gothic style of French origin, including Brunelleschi's renowned sculpture, which is the starting point for the Early Renaissance. The exhibition follows development and influences from monumental sculptures by the likes of Donatello, Ghiberti, Nanni di Banco and Michelozzo, painting by artists such as Masaccio, Paolo Uccello, Andrea del Castagno and Filippo Lippi, and the impact on the political and spiritual mood of the city. Other elements include the development of perspective in bas-relief work, a taste for 'new beauty' and new commissions in places of worship, and the transition to the private patronage of the powerful Medici family. This beautiful exhibition catalogue encompasses the exhibition through over 200 images.

Velib is a contraction of velo (bike) and liberte (freedom). It's the perfect way to discover the city! Paris now has a fabulous network of bike paths and this book gives seven itineraries throughout the city for safe, fun and healthy visiting. It has maps, addresses for shopping and eating, practical information and sites to visit. There is even an interactive feature using QR codes for news and activities on the blog Velib & Me. Since it was launched in 2007 Velib has become one of the most-used means of transport in Paris, with over 120,000 daily trips. It's a fantastic and oh-so-Parisian way to see the city: along the Seine and its monuments, off the beaten track in Batignolles & Montmartre, or along the green track to the authentic Aligre market. Visit the city by bike with confidence and at your own pace thanks to this invaluable guide.

Pompeii: The Art of Living explains and illustrates all peculiarities of Pompeian dwellings, rich middle class houses as well as the poor ones. The book details the dimensions of the rooms, the objects in those rooms, frescos, statues, marbles, vases, gardens, it reveals the secrets of ancient Pompeian everyday life — secrets that will surprise and delight.

The great Isis Temple, Egyptian style in house decoration, an artificial canal reproducing the Nile in a villa — Isis and Egypt were very dear to the Pompeian people. During archaeological digs in Pompeii the remains of a young girl — running from the eruption — were found; in her arms she was clutching her silver statue of Isis. The first archaeological discoveries in Pompeii, during the eighteenth century, were integral in spreading one of the strongest fascinations with all things Egyptian during modern times; the discoveries influenced art, fashion, writers and sculptors across the globe. Pompeii was an unavoidable stop in the Grand Tour and still remains essential for any contemporary traveller especially fond of Egyptian esotericism.

Giotto (c.1267-1337) is the foremost renovator of Western painting after classical Antiquity. The Tuscan artist was celebrated by his contemporaries, including Dante, and is universally considered one of the greatest artists of all times. The three Louvre altarpieces are the starting point of the exhibit: the large St. Francis receiving the stigmata, a signed work from Giotto's early years and originally in Pisa, the momumental painted cross, often overlooked because of conservation problems but newly restored, and the noteworthy Crucifixion, key to understand the activity of Giotto and his workshop in Naples around 1330. The latter work had profound iconographic and stylistic influence in France due to the close links between Naple's sovereigns of the time, the Anjou, and their French cousins. Additional works from French and foreign collections — including drawings, manuscripts and panel paintings — will help shed light on Giotto, his workshop and the liturgical role of his altarpieces. Text in French.

The collection of drawings in the Ashmolean is one of the greatest treasures of the University of Oxford. It began spectacularly in 1843 when a group of drawings by Raphael and Michelangelo that had previously belonged to the portrait painter, Sir Thomas Lawrence, was bought by subscription. Lawrence's collection was one of the greatest collections of Old Master drawings ever assembled and its dispersal was much regretted. The Raphaels and Michelangelos, however, were the jewels in its crown. Following their arrival in Oxford, their fame attracted a number of gifts and bequests of drawings and watercolours by Durer, Claude Lorraine, Brueghel, J. M. W Turner and many others. This is a story not only of Old Masters but of benefactors — Francis Douce, Chambers Hall, John Ruskin and their successors — whose different tastes account for the variety of the drawings in the modern Print Room. It is a story also of the curators who bought them. In particular, it is the story of Sir Karl Parker who arrived at the museum in 1934 and left a collection when he retired in 1962 that comprehensively covered the history of the art of drawing in Europe from its origins to the present day. The exhibition, Master Drawings: Michelangelo to Moore, celebrates this history. It includes many of the finest drawings in Oxford, representing the work of many different artists: Raphael and Michelangelo; Durer and the artists of the Northern Renaissance; Guercino and Rubens; Boucher and Tiepolo; German Romantics; J. M. W. Turner; Degas and Pissarro; the artists of the Ballets Russes; British twentieth-century artists from Gwen John to Hockney; and much else.

'The Yearbook of Type' is an independent compendium presenting a selection of the best fonts designed or released during the last four years. These fonts come from all around the world — distinguished brands as well as small, independent type designers and foundries. The book is structured alphabetically. In addition, an index allows the reader to look for fonts according to their classification. Several chapters presenting type designers, foundries and background knowledge on typography as well as practical advice complement the detailed listing of fonts that constitutes the main body. Emotional, evocative and informative designs paired with a high practicability — 'The Yearbook of Type' is meant to inspire as well as support people working with type. Graphic designers and advertising agencies can use it as a catalogue or reference book, but it also addresses anybody with an interest in type design.

The hallmarks of a classic: legendary off-road capabilities, top-class equipment and an unyielding character. The G-STORIES in this book tell of adventures, stylistic clarity, enduring craftsmanship, rally success, off-road tricks and the strong G-GENES that shape all modern Mercedes-Benz off-road vehicles.

Douglas Kirkland has amassed an impressive body of work throughout his 50-year photography career, his images running the gamut from stars and film-makers, to classics and collectables, to love and nudes. Here, the photographer presents a collection of his images accompanied by a story of his career's development told from his perspective. Kirkland worked for such publications as Look Magazine and Life Magazine, but his career took off with his legendary 1961 Marilyn Monroe shoot for 'Look's' 25th anniversary issue, the photographs from which are still recreated by stars today. Featuring an insightful foreword by acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann and his award-winning wife, Catherine Martin, this volume reveals both Kirkland and his prolific work.

Badain Jaran is a desert, more than 19,000 square miles of endless openness, with innumerable sand dunes up to 1,600 feet tall and mysterious salt-water lakes. It is part of the Alashan desert, south-west to the Gobi in the Inner Mogolia province of China. A place that has been discovered by American scientists on satellite images in the 1980s only that miraculously has been kept hidden to most people since. In 2009-12 Carlos Crespo realised a vast photo essay on the unique, spectacular, and very remote landscape of Badain Jaran. Crespo had to deal with extreme cold in winter and violent sandstorms in spring and autumn in a barely inhabitable environment. Over time he made contact with some of the few Mongolian herdsmen living on the fringes of the desert and won their confidence and sympathy. This allowed him also to make portraits of these people and document their way of living. The new book Badain Jaran is meant to make this extraordinary place a symbol and metaphor for all untouched natural sites, reflecting their importance and the necessity of their protection from being turned into ever more tourist attractions.

'Amsterdam: A Metropolitan Village' is a photographic tribute to a city one can be proud of. A city with a unique geographical character, thanks to the wonderful rhythmic play between water and land. And where else can a 15 minute bike ride take you from the heart of the city into a countryside landscape that would not look out of place in the masterpieces of Vermeer? For a whole year, photographer Ewout Huibers, was given the freedom to wander through the city of Amsterdam and capture what he thought was interesting. And the result is at least a tribute of great diversity: from the role of the water in the city, to the parasols in the front yards; from an architectural point of reference, to a cyclist in the snow. The book, like Amsterdam, is both familiar and surprising.

Zoos work to preserve nature, protecting animals from the encroaching human presence in their native environments. Cages and glass — these barriers exist to protect both the animals and the visitors. Photographer Boza Ivanovic, however, artfully transforms this dynamic in his latest book, 'Out of the Wild: Zoo Portraits'. His photographs pull viewers past protective boundaries, reinstating a sensation of awe and even fear. Here, zoo animals appear as they do in nature — without the perceived safety of barriers. As a result of his careful presentation, Ivanovic inspires a tension in his viewers. These animals are at once as terrifying as they are hauntingly beautiful. They emerge from the darkness or swoop gracefully toward the lens. Ivanovic's carefully crafted images restore the majesty of these creatures, revealing that there is still a wild spirit in these animals' hearts — whether in the wild or out.

Actors fascinate us in part because they live out the truths we cannot — or do not — want to live out ourselves. In his latest book, acclaimed photographer Howard Schatz develops upon his well-received monthly feature for 'Vanity Fair','In Character.' Schatz' mastery of his craft is demonstrated as he himself acts, taking on the role of a director and giving his subjects detailed situations to explore, which are listed with the resulting image. The actors featured here — including John Malkovich, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Douglas, Colin Firth, Laurence Fishburne, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael C. Hall, Hugh Laurie, Amy Poehler, and Geoffrey Rush, among other illustrious greats — demonstrate their skill for improvisation while Schatz captures the complexity of their emotional and physical range. This inventive collection is a richly entertaining revelation of the fantasy of transformation. Schatz does not simply create characters from these actors — he helps to reveal their humanity.