themes, motives

A collection of true stories recounting the behind-the-scenes scandals, secrets, and unique circumstances surrounding the creation and survival of twenty-six legendary works of art.

Explores the meanings and values of the objects with which influential families in Renaissance Italy, like the Medici, Este, and Gonzaga, surrounded themselves with, examining the link between the fine arts, painting and sculpting, and artifacts of other kinds.

Examines key sculptures from African cultures, discussing their origins and inspirations and what they have meant to various African groups.

Explores Islamic art, discussing elements, themes, techniques, and iconography, and providing detailed reproductions of paintings; metalwork; calligraphy; manuscripts; and pieces made of ceramic, glass, wood, and ivory.

Presents an overview of major developments in the visual arts from Impressionism to Post-Modernism, covering New Realism, Art Nouveau, Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, Op Art, Pop Art, and other movements; and includes over four hundred color illustrations.

Written by two of the head animators at Disney Studios, this is an examination of the vital role which villains have played in many of the most popular Disney productions.

Compares different artistic renditions of similar themes; considers landscapes and seascapes, portraits, religious imagery, etc.; and then introduces paintings as decorations on flat surfaces.

Examines, in simple terms, the nature of imaginary and realistic places created by such modern artists as Hopper, Munch, and Shahn.

Provides a comprehensive, alphabetically-arranged overview of literary works including plays, poetry, short stories, novels, and nonfiction from "Absalom, Absalom" to "Little House on the Prairie.".