This author explores the profound connections between art, history, and human civilization. His work delves into how artifacts and artworks narrate the stories of the past, shape our present, and influence our future. With an emphasis on universal themes and a global perspective, he seeks to uncover how humanity's shared heritage, through art, transcends cultural and national boundaries.
Exploring the life, imagery and lasting appeal of Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), this landmark book features a core of important historic paintings representing the saint by Giotto, Sassetta, Caravaggio, Zurbaran and El Greco.
Traces the ways in which different societies have understood and articulated their places in the cosmic scheme. It examines mankind's beliefs not from the perspective of institutional religions but according to how shared narratives have shaped societies - and what happens when different narratives run up against each other
The Elizabethan age was a tumultuous time, when long-cherished certainties were crumbling and life was exhilaratingly uncertain. Shakespeare's Restless World uncovers the extraordinary stories behind twenty objects from the period to re-create an age at once distant and yet surprisingly familiar. From knife crime to belief in witches, religious battles to the horizons of the New World, Neil MacGregor brings the past to life in a fresh, unexpected portrait of a dangerous and dynamic era. 'Fascinating ... filled with anecdotes and insights, eerie, funny, poignant and grotesque ... another brilliant vindication of MacGregor's understanding of physical objects to enter deep into our fore-fathers' mental and spiritual world' Christopher Hart, Sunday Times 'Enjoyable and intriguing, an absorbing evocation ... he draws us into the minds of the Elizabethan and Jacobean audience. Next time you see one of the plays reading this book will make those first audiences seem real to you' Peter Lewis, Daily Mail 'How gripping are these tales from a lost world. And what a world Shakespeare's was - adventurous, melancholy, rich and plagued by beggary, courteous and quarrelsome, sceptical and credulous' Daily Telegraph 'Elegant, informative ... provides stimulating insights' Anne Somerset, Spectator
A lucid introduction to the chilling but clear system of thought of the most notorious anti-Semite in history
Neil MacGregor offers a unique perspective on Germany's history and collective imagination in this compact hardcover edition. For the past 140 years, Germany has been a central power in continental Europe, and the emergence of a new German state 25 years ago raises questions about our understanding of this nation and its identity. MacGregor contends that, unlike other European countries, Germany lacks a coherent, overarching historical narrative due to its unstable geography and history. He begins with the fifteenth-century invention of modern printing by Gutenberg and selects various objects, ideas, people, and places that reflect Germany's collective imagination. This work presents a dramatically different view of Germany, moving beyond the typical focus on the War and the Wall to explore the country's rich and complex history. Critics praise MacGregor as a cultural polymath, with one noting that anyone seeking to understand Germany should read this book. Another highlights the dazzling history portrayed, from sausages and porcelain to the Bauhaus, emphasizing that the illustrations alone inspire a desire to visit Germany.
Während Shakespeare unvergängliche Werke wie “Romeo und Julia”, “Hamlet” oder “Othello” schrieb, ging die Welt durch eine Epoche tiefgreifender Veränderungen. Seit der Entdeckung Amerikas hatten sich die Horizonte Europas dramatisch erweitert, die Reformation spaltete die Christenheit, ein ganzes Weltbild geriet ins Wanken. Neil MacGregor führt uns mitten hinein in diese aufregende Zeit - und mitten hinein in die Stücke William Shakespeares. Ob er uns das Schwert eines Edelmanns oder die Wollmütze eines Handwerksburschen, einen Glaskelch aus Venedig oder Münzen aus Marrakesch vorstellt - immer weiß Neil MacGregor in den zwanzig Kapiteln dieses Buches eines der Themen zu illuminieren, die Shakespeares Zeitalter prägten: die Globalisierung, die Glaubenskämpfe, die Pest, der Islam, die Magie - und uns zugleich vertraut zu machen mit einem der aufregendsten Dichter der Weltliteratur. Das Resultat ist ein hinreißend lebendiges, glänzend geschriebenes und in vielem überraschendes Portrait der gefährlich aufgewühlten Welt von William Shakespeare. (Quelle: www.buchhandel.de).
Neil MacGregor's radio series 'A History of the World in 100 Objects' has been a unique event that has set a benchmark for public service broadcasting in the UK and across the world. This book will be the tie-in to that event, reproducing the scripts describing the objects that made us who we are.
Britain has one of the world's finest collections of Western art. From Raphael to Reynolds, from Botticelli to Bacon, amazing paintings grace the walls of our galleries, museums, historic houses and palaces. Neil MacGregor has set out to demonstrate the richness of the paintings that this country enjoys. The book is arranged by theme as opposed to chronology, identifying the major ideas that have inspired artists all over the world for many centuries. There is also a richly illustrated chronology of artists complete with biographical notes and where they can be seen in Britain as well as a comprehensive guide to the Galleries of England, Scotland and Wales.
The life and death of Christ have profoundly influenced Western European art for nearly two millennia, allowing artists to explore universal themes of love, hope, heroism, and suffering. Without contemporary descriptions of Jesus' appearance, his portrayal in art has varied, reflecting the spiritual perspectives of artists, the desires of patrons, and the needs of viewers. In this richly illustrated work, Neil MacGregor examines how artists from diverse cultures and eras have depicted Christ's story, tracing the evolution of his recognizable image. He explores representations in high art and popular craft found in galleries, churches, museums, and even market stalls, illustrating the development of Christian culture since Christ's birth. MacGregor highlights how certain artworks reveal societal views of Christ and the creators' inner struggles. For instance, Michelangelo's successive Pieta sculptures document his evolving faith and personal anguish, while Rembrandt's revisions of his Crucifixion etching reflect his changing perceptions and a more somber outlook on life. Ultimately, MacGregor asserts that images of Christ continue to resonate powerfully with both believers and nonbelievers, offering valuable insights into our lives today, just as they did when created.
RO60110628. DEGAS AS A COLLECTOR. 1996. In-4. Broché. Bon état, Couv. convenable, Dos satisfaisant, Intérieur frais. 77 pages. Photo en couleur en frontispice. Illustré de nombreuses photos en couleur et en noir et blanc, dans et hors texte. Texte sur 3 colonnes.. . . . Classification Dewey : 420-Langue anglaise. Anglo-saxon
