Metropolitan Museum of Art Books

Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), a major figure in the German Romantic movement, painted sublime works representing nature at its most melancholic and desolate. One of his most famous motifs was that of two intimate figures, seen from behind, gazing at the moon. Friedrich painted three versions of this theme, one of which -- Two Men Contemplating the Moon -- has recently been acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The book discusses the Metropolitan's painting in conjunction with the other two versions and a number of related paintings and drawings by Friedrich and his Dresden friends. It also presents fascinating details about the moon itself -- including what was known about it in Friedrich's lifetime and its presence and symbolism in contemporary Romantic poetry.

The first centuries of the Christian Era were marked by significant upheaval, transforming classical traditions through changes in political and social structures, warfare, and the rising influence of Christianity. While some historians view this as a decline of civilization, the art from this period reflects cultural experimentation. Artists moved away from classical realism yet continued to draw from the imagery of pagan and imperial Rome, creating works characterized by spiritual grace and abstraction. This innovative style emerged from the interaction of Eastern and Western Empires, various religions, and urban and provincial societies, shaping Byzantine and medieval artistic traditions. In November 1977, an extensive exhibition opened to the public, focusing on Late Antique and Early Christian art. It was the largest of its kind and recognized as one of the most significant educational exhibitions ever assembled by an art museum. Featuring 450 objects from over 110 institutions and private collections across fifteen countries, the exhibition presented this lesser-known period through five realms: Imperial, Classical, Secular, Jewish, and Christian. The diverse array of materials, styles, and techniques included delicate jewelry, carved ivory diptychs, rare manuscripts, monumental portraits, wall paintings, and floor mosaics. Architectural monuments, depicted in photomontage, offered insights into the lives of emperors an

Examines the Pre-Columbian, Colonial, Nineteenth Century, and Twentieth Century periods of Mexican art and artifacts

Book by Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)

Showcase of cats featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, book illustrations, ceramics, lacquers & needlework. Illustrator: Grossman, Alvin, Published by Harry N. Abrams, Incl, N.Y. & Printed in Japan.

French