Debra N. Mancoff Books

A behind-the-scenes look at the most famous works of art in the world.

Discover the secrets, mysteries, hidden meanings and stories behind famous works of art. A book full of surprises, discoveries, forgotten treasures and lost tales, The Secrets of Art takes us on a journey through the art world’s mysteries to reveal that works of art are not always what they seem. A long-lost medieval masterpiece unearthed in the Tower of London. A secret message that only an elite few can read encoded in a painting. A glimpse of a ghostly image beneath the surface of a portrait. The intriguing stories of these works, and many more, are brought to life by author, historian and art detective Debra N. Mancoff, as she reveals secret symbols used by Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer and Caravaggio, uncovers layers of meaning in paintings by Van Gogh, Picasso and Dali, and provides insight into works by Frida Kahlo, Kara Walker and Marina Abramović. Drawing upon the findings of advanced technology, new research, scientific analysis and old-fashioned curiosity, The Secrets of Art unveils the layers of meaning beneath the surfaces of great works of art in a collection of tales that are fully based in fact but are as fascinating as fiction.

"One of nature's most commanding blooms, the sunflower has an enduring power and beauty that have been captured most famously by Vincent van Gogh. Indeed, for many the sunflower has become synonymous with van Gogh's art, but, as this delightful book so amply demonstrates, the flower's significance can be traced from pre-Columbian times to the present day." "The book's numerous full-color illustrations celebrate the image of the sunflower from its first appearance in sixteenth-century European botanical texts to twentieth-century representations. Brief essays and reproductions survey the multiple meanings of this species for science, religion, literature, and art, culminating in its importance for the British Aesthetic movement and for art in late-nineteenth century France. The flower's representation creates a context for van Gogh's work, and the penultimate section of the book develops the image of the sunflower as a lasting emblem of the artist. The final chapter surveys the relevance of the flower for artists into the late twentieth century."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This stunning bouquet of romantic paintings brings together two important aspects of Victorian life—the pre-Raphaelite movement and the language of flowers—in one exquisite volume. Few artistic movements capture classic notions of beauty as romantically as the Pre-Raphaelites—a group of nineteenth-century painters and poets who aimed to revive the purer art of the late medieval period. Brilliantly colored and carefully composed, pre-Raphaelite paintings are revered for their idealistic portrayal of women, their emphasis on nature and morality, and their use of literature and mythology. Flowers figure prominently in many of these paintings, the blooms as physically lush as they are laden with symbolism. For this was the Victorian era, when the language of flowers was spoken by everyone. In this beautiful volume, Debra N. Mancoff, an expert on Pre-Raphaelite art and the floral lexicon presents forty breathtaking examples, which illuminate the meaning of flowers in all aspects of Victorian culture. She offers brief commentaries on individual paintings as well as biographies of the period’s leading artists and their models. A captivating introduction to an artistic movement, this exquisitely produced book is also a romantic keepsake of an artistic sensibility that speaks volumes.

A fresh and fascinating look at the key subject of Rossetti's art that will appeal to a broad art-loving readership.

"This book explores renowned works of art from across the centuries and around the globe, looking at the discoveries and inventions that allowed artists to explore different ways of creating. From oil paint, pastel and pencil, to perspective, collage and immersive spaces, each chapter showcases an artwork which demonstrates the mastery and innovative use of a single material or method, presented as the centerpiece of a capsule history" --

This exquisite collection of paintings illustrates just how marvelously the Pre-Raphaelites'focus on the natural world intersected with the Victorian passion for all things botanical. Short-lived but highly influential, the Pre-Raphaelite movement was fueled by a rejection of academic artistic conventions and a longing for the aesthetic simplicity and moral sincerity of medieval and early Renaissance art. But it also coincided with a Victorian obsession with botany, gardening and flower arranging. As a result, painters such as Rosetti, Millais and Hughes populated their works with floral symbols that were steeped in religious and cultural significance. This stunning book examines the greatest of these works, including portraits of Hamlet's Ophelia, the Virgin Mary, and figures from Greek mythology and medieval lore. Each entry features a full-page reproduction of the painting, accompanied by smaller details and an engaging text that offers fascinating background and contextual clues to deepen readers' appreciation of the Pre-Raphaelite language. As lush and colorful as a late summer bouquet, this book is the perfect gift for lovers of flowers as well as for fans of romantic Victorian art.

The conventional history of art is one of great men making great paintings, and displaying their works to a predominantly male audience in male-run institutions. Women, however, have had a role, often working behind the scenes, out of sight or in resistance to prevailing attitudes and practices. And it is in these exceptions to the rules of the masculine world of art-making that women artists have been perceived as groundbreaking, defiant and even subversive. A compelling selection of more than 60 artists from the early Renaissance to the present day, among them Judith Leyster, Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo and Louise Bourgeois, Danger! Women Artists at Work explores the most intriguing and provocative aspects of art by women who shook up the art world. Through a lively introduction and six thematic chapters dealing with such subjects as the ways in which women have challenged the boundaries of expression and how they have viewed the human body, Debra N. Mancoff presents an absorbing tale of those who have struggled and triumphed in their efforts to transform the visual arts.

Van Gogh was inspired by the beauty and colours of nature. He brought this passion to life in some of the most vibrant depictions of the natural world ever put to canvas. This book takes a look at this side of the artist's life and work. It offers insight into the artist's unique vision with the help of his most beautiful paintings and excerpts from his own writings. We see that flowers such as the iris and the sunflower served as emblems of self-identity and that the fields were a testament to the cycle of life and a warning of the inevitability of death. The book offers a portrait of the joy and pleasure that Van Gogh experienced in his life and expressed with his brush.

Odhaľte nové významy známych majstrovských diel! Dlho stratené majstrovské dielo Leonarda da Vinci sa nájde skryté za stenou. V obraze je zašifrovaná tajná správa, ktorej rozumie len vybraný okruh ľudí. Vojvodkyňa na portréte má oblečené šaty, ktoré pod rúškom jej vlastného štýlu vyjadrujú podporu politickým krokom a moci manžela. Príbehy tohto a mnohých ďalších umeleckých diel nájdete v knihe Tajomstvá umenia. Pozýva vás na pútavú cestu za záhadami aj objavmi umeleckého sveta a vy zistíte, že umelecké diela nie sú vždy tým, čím sa na prvý pohľad zdajú. Tajomstvá umenia vychádzajú z komplexných zistení nových technológií, archívneho výskumu, vedeckých analýz a starej dobrej zvedavosti. Odhaľujú vrstvy významov pod povrchom známych majstrovských diel v príbehoch, ktoré vychádzajú len z faktov, ale zároveň sú také fascinujúce ako fikcia. Z anglického originálu preložila Ivana Krekáňová.