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ART STORIA | Resources  

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ART/HISTORY SCHOLARSHIP
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ART STORIA | Arts & Artifacts

by Randy H. Sooknanan (Author, Editor), Denise K. McTighe (Author, Editor), Elvira Resta (Author), Ani Margaryan (Author), Sorubi Ravindran (Author), & Chris Porteous (Editor)

ART STORIA (meaning 'Art History' in Italian) is a book and magazine publisher.


In this edition, ART STORIA introduces Arts & Artifacts, a collection of carefully curated ideas and articles put together by writers and researchers across the globe.

 

The content here surveys artworks and archaeological artifacts often overlooked from the past, spanning over centuries of art history, whilst fostering an interesting discourse and productive analytical dialogue to ultimately offer the reader new perspectives.

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A Museum Studies Approach to Digital Practice at Heritage Tourism Destinations

by Randy H. Sooknanan 

Inside today's museum spaces, the design of exhibitions now offer the ability to learn in both reality and virtuality. It can also be said that the relationship between genuine artifacts and the delivery of their contexts via virtual channels is increasingly construed by a more advanced and innovative set of computer-based technologies. In past decades, an efficacious utilization of Digital has amalgamated with arts and history learning to change critical pedagogy experiences for visitors and consumers of culture in the arena of museology. While in more recent years, smartphones have allowed visiting museums, galleries, or heritage sites a new and supplementary way to fill any informational voids. This is especially so in traditional museum settings, where Digital has become innate. However, mobile technologies could still produce a more substantial contribution to filling in the learning gaps commonly found in the cultural heritage tourism sector. In this book we ponder how museologists, researchers, and designers can bridge the divide between the natural physical world and virtual spaces at significant outdoor heritage locations.

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The Resurgence of Rome: What the US can learn from the Strategy of an Empire on the brink of disaster

by Davide Montingelli, Translated by Kirsten Gallagher, Maria Hansford (Contributor)

Long before A.D. 476, the Roman Empire was plunged into a devastating crisis. The legions were no longer invincible, powerful new enemies were attacking the borders, one emperor after another was slain by conspirators, and traditional values were not enough to guide the bewildered and frightened populace. It seemed as if Rome, the city that had civilized the world, was on the point of inexorable collapse. At that precise moment three remarkable figures arose to lead the Empire on the path towards recovery: Gallienus, Aurelian and Diocletian. Drawing upon historical sources and modern theories of international relations, the author presents the strategic-military, economic and ideological measures that the empire implemented to overcome the Crisis of the Third Century. Reading his work, we do not only gain knowledge of the period; we are also able to extract possible lessons for the major empire of our times, the United States of America. "The Resurgence of Rome" is an authentic journey through one of the most crucial moments in our history.

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The Shadow King

by Jo Marchant

The literary vampire first appeared in 18th-century poetry before becoming one of the mainstay figures of gothic fiction. The notion of such lore was originally seen in literature with the publication of John William Polidori’s The Vampyre in 1819. Polidori’s work of fiction romanticized the vampire for the first time and went on to inspire many other writers after the fact. Inside this book, you will find other early vampire tales written long before the now-infamous Dracula by Bram Stoker. Stoker borrowed many themes and elements from these collected short stories himself, as have other literary artists over time. This edition includes The Vampyre by Polidori, along with Carmilla by J. Le Fanu and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Olalla. These three featured short stories have all been heavily influential on the genre. 

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Sicily: Three Thousand Years of Human History

by Sandra Benjamin

Tourists, armchair travelers, and historians will delight in this fluid and engaging journey into Sicily’s colorful past
 
The emigration of people from Sicily often overshadows the importance of the people who immigrated to its shores throughout the centuries. Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Goths, Byzantines, Muslims, Normans, Hohenstaufens, Spaniards, Bourbons, the Savoy Kingdom of Italy—and countless others—have all held sway and left lasting influences on the island’s culture and architecture. Moreover, Sicily’s character has been shaped by what has passed it by. Events that affected Europe, namely the Crusades and Columbus’ discovery of the Americas, had little influence on Italy’s most famous island.
 
The first and only history of Sicily for the general reader, this book examines how location turned this charming Mediterranean island into the epicenter of major historical conquests, cultures, and more. Complete with maps, biographical notes, suggestions for further reading, a glossary, and pronunciation keys, Sicily is at once a useful travel guide and an informative, entertaining exploration of the island’s remarkable history.

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Van Gogh's Ear

by Bernadette Murphy

On a dark night in Provence in December 1888 Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear. It is an act that has come to define him. Yet for more than a century biographers and histo­rians seeking definitive facts about what happened that night have been left with more questions than answers.

In Van Gogh’s Ear Bernadette Murphy sets out to discover exactly what happened that night in Arles. Why would an artist at the height of his powers commit such a brutal act of self-harm? Was it just his lobe, or did Van Gogh really cut off his entire ear? Who was the mysterious “Rachel” to whom he presented his macabre gift? Murphy’s investi­gation takes us from major museums to the moldering contents of forgotten archives, vividly reconstructing the world in which Van Gogh moved—the madams and prostitutes, café patrons and police inspectors, his beloved brother, Theo, and his fellow artist and house guest Paul Gauguin. With exclusive revela­tions and new research about the ear and about Rachel, Bernadette Murphy proposes a bold new hypothesis about what was occur­ring in Van Gogh’s heart and mind as he made a mysterious delivery to a woman’s doorstep that fateful night.

Van Gogh’s Ear is a compelling detective story and a journey of discovery. It is also a portrait of a painter creating his most iconic and revolutionary work, pushing himself ever closer to greatness even as he edged towards madness—and the one fateful sweep of the blade that would resonate through the ages.

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How To Write Art History

by Anne D'Alleva

An invaluable handbook, How to Write Art History enables students to get the most from their art history course. In a clear and engaging style, Anne D'Alleva empowers readers to approach their coursework with confidence and energy.

The book introduces two basic art historical methods – formal analysis and contextual analysis – and this second edition provides even more step-by-step guidance about how these methods can be used in class discussion and in writing essays and papers. The common strengths and weaknesses of an art history essay are highlighted by using real examples of written work, and at each stage of the writing process D'Alleva offers valuable advice on developing an argument convincingly.

Providing a fascinating view of the study of art history within its historical context, this book will be particularly helpful for those considering a career in this rewarding discipline.

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ART HISTORY TEXTBOOKS
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Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition (8th Edition) 

by Penelope J.E. Davies (Author), Frima Fox Hofrichter (Author), Joseph F. Jacobs (Author), David L. Simon (Author), Ann S. Roberts (Author), Family Trust Janson (Author)

For courses in the History of Art.

 

Rewritten and reorganized, this new edition weaves together the most recent scholarship, the most current thinking in art history, and the most innovative online supplements, including digital art library. Experience the new Janson and re-experience the history of art.

 

Long established as the classic and seminal introduction to art of the Western world, the Eighth Edition of Janson's History of Art is groundbreaking. When Harry Abrams first published the History of Art in 1962, John F. Kennedy occupied the White House, and Andy Warhol was an emerging artist.  Janson offered his readers a strong focus on Western art, an important consideration of technique and style, and a clear point of view. The History of Art, said Janson, was not just a stringing together of historically significant objects, but the writing of a story about their interconnections, a history of styles and of stylistic change. Janson’s text focused on the visual and technical characteristics of the objects he discussed, often in extraordinarily eloquent language. Janson’s History of Art helped to establish the canon of art history for many generations of scholars.

 

The new Eighth Edition, although revised to remain current with new discoveries and scholarship, continues to follow Janson’s lead in important ways: It is limited to the Western tradition, with a chapter on Islamic art and its relationship to Western art. It keeps the focus of the discussion on the object, its manufacture, and its visual character. It considers the contribution of the artist as an important part of the analysis. This edition maintains an organization along the lines established by Janson, with separate chapters on the Northern European Renaissance, the Italian Renaissance, the High Renaissance, and Baroque art, with stylistic divisions for key periods of the modern era. Also embedded in this edition is the narrative of how art has changed over time in the cultures that Europe has claimed as its patrimony.

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Art History (6th Edition)

by Marilyn Stokstad (Author), Michael W. Cothren (Author)

For survey courses in Art History

 

Welcoming, inclusive, engaging, and global Art History brings the history of art to life for a new generation of students. It is global in scope, inclusive in its coverage, and warm and welcoming in tone. The guiding vision of Art History is that the teaching of art history survey courses should be filled with equal delight, enjoyment, and serious learning, while fostering an enthusiastic and educated public for the visual arts. The Sixth Edition has been revised to reflect new discoveries, recent research, and fresh interpretive perspectives, as well as to address the changing needs of both students and educators.

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Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Concise Global History

by Fred Kleiner (Author)

GARDNER'S ART THROUGH THE AGES: A CONCISE GLOBAL HISTORY, 4th Edition provides you with a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated tour of the world's great artistic traditions, and, with MindTap, all of the online study tools you need to excel in your art history course! Easy to read and understand, the fourth edition includes new artists and provides a rich cultural backdrop for each of the covered periods and geographical locations.

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The Oxford History of Western Art

by Martin Kemp (Editor)

The Oxford History of Western Art is a unique and authoritative account of the development of visual culture in the West over the last 2700 years, from the classical period to the end of the twentieth century. OHWA takes a fresh look at how the history of art is presented and understood. It uses a carefully devised modular structure to offer readers powerful insights into how and why works of art were created. This is not a simple, linear 'story' of art, but a rich series of stories, told from varying viewpoints. Carefully selected groups of pictures give readers a sense of the visual 'texture' of the periods and movements covered. The 167 illustration groups, supported by explanatory text and captions, create a sequence of 'visual tours' - juxtapositions of significant images that convey a sense of the visual environments in which works of art were produced and viewed. The reader is invited to become an active participant in the process of interpretation. Another key feature is the redefinition of traditional period boundaries. Rather than relying on conventional labels such as Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, etc., five major phases of significant historical change are established that unlock longer and more meaningful continuities: The foundations: Greece and Rome c.600 BC-AD 410 Church and state: The establishing of visual culture 410-1527 The art of nations: European visual regimes 1528-1770 The era of revolutions 1770-1914 Modernism and after 1914-2000 This framework shows how the major religious and secular functions of art have been forged, sustained, transformed, revived, and revolutionized over the ages; how the institutions of church and state have consistently aspired to make art in their own image; and how the rise of art history itself has come to provide the dominant conceptual framework within which artists create, patrons patronize, collectors collect, galleries exhibit, dealers deal, and art historians write. The text has been written by a team of 50 specialist authors working under the direction of Professor Martin Kemp, one of the UK's most distinguished art historians. While bringing their own expertise and vision to their sections, each author has also related their text to a number of unifying themes and issues, including written evidence, physical contexts, patronage, viewing and reception, techniques, gender and race, centres and peripheries, media and condition, the notion of 'art', and current presentations. Though the coverage of topics focuses on European notions of art and their transplantation and transformation in North America, space is also given to cross-fertilizations with other traditions - including the art of Latin America, the Soviet Union, India, Africa, Australia, and Canada. The applied arts and reproductive media such as photography and prints are also covered. The result is a fresh and vibrant account of Western art, which serves both as an inspirational introduction for the general reader and an authoritative source of reference and guidance for students.

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A World History of Art (7th ed. Revised)

by Hugh Honour,  (Author) & John Fleming  (Author)

A riveting true story of murder and detection in 15th-century Paris, by one of the most brilliant medievalists of his generation.

On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of masked men. The crime stunned and paralyzed France since Louis had often ruled in place of his brother King Charles, who had gone mad. As panic seized Paris, an investigation began. In charge was the Provost of Paris, Guillaume de Tignonville, the city's chief law enforcement officer -- and one of history's first detectives. As de Tignonville began to investigate, he realized that his hunt for the truth was much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

A rich portrait of a distant world, Blood Royal is a gripping story of conspiracy, crime and an increasingly desperate hunt for the truth. And in Guillaume de Tignonville, we have an unforgettable detective for the ages, a classic gumshoe for a cobblestoned era.

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Art: The Whole Story (Reprint edition)

by Richard Cork (Foreword), Stephen Farthing (Editor)

The most accessible history of world art ever assembled. Written by an international team of artists, art historians, and curators, this absorbing and beautiful book gives readers unparalleled insights into the world’s most iconic artworks. Art: The Whole Story traces the development of art period by period, with the informative and highly illustrated text covering every genre, from painting and sculpture to conceptual art and performance art. Cultural timelines are included as well, in order to help readers with each movement’s historical context.

 

Masterpieces that epitomize each period or movement are highlighted and analyzed in detail. Everything from use of color and visual metaphors to technical innovations are explained, giving readers the tools to interpret the meanings of world-famous masterpieces. Highlights include Mughal miniatures; Japanese prints from the nineteenth century; the color theories behind Seurat’s remarkable La Grande Jatte; and why Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon was so shocking in its day.

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Art: A Visual History (Second Edition)

by Patrick De Rynck and Jon Thompson

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Edgar Degas

 

Covering every era and over 650 artists, this comprehensive, illustrated guide offers an accessible yet expansive view of art history, featuring everything from iconic works and lesser-known gems to techniques and themes.

 

Offering a comprehensive overview of Western artists, themes, paintings, techniques, and stories, Art: A Visual History is packed full of large, full-color images of iconic works and lesser-known gems. Exploring every era, from 30,000BCE to the present, it includes features on the major schools and movements, as well as close-up critical appraisals of 22 masterpieces – from Botticelli’s Primavera to J. M. W. Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire.

 

With detailed referencing, crisp reproductions, and a fresh design, this beautiful book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in art history – from first-time gallery-goers to knowledgeable art enthusiasts.

 

What makes great art? Discover the answer now, with Art: A Visual History.

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Understanding Painting: From Giotto to Warhol

by Patrick De Rynck (Author), Jon Thompson (Author)

Great paintings, filled with complex themes and symbols, can be intimidating. Here, Patrick De Rynck and Jon Thompson explore more than 300 famous works spanning the Middle Ages to the late 20th century, unlocking each work's meaning. Today's art lovers lack the intimate knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology, folklore, and Christian theology that was so well-known to medieval and Renaissance artists and their public. Likewise, modern and contemporary art can baffle even sophisticated viewers. With brief yet illuminating explanations and more than 600 color reproductions - including many close-up details - of works by artists from Giotto, Botticelli, El Greco, Rubens, and Vermeer to Bonnard, Degas, Whistler, Van Gogh, Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, and Basquiat, this book provides the means to interpret and better enjoy these and many other works of art.

• Spans seven centuries of masterpiece paintings from major museum collections
• Accessible and informative for general art lovers and those looking to learn, but interesting enough to be enjoyed by scholars and experts
• More than 600 superb color reproductions accompanied by brief yet illuminating explanations
• Includes paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, and Rembrandt, to Monet, Matisse, and Pollock

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ART HISTORY QUICK REFERENCE
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Art: A World History

by Elke Linda Buchholz (Author), Susanne Kaeppele (Author), Karoline Hille (Author), Irina Stotland (Author), Gerhard Buhler (Author)

This handy, pocket-sized volume includes 900 illustrations and takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the most spectacular works of art around the world and throughout time.

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The Short Story of Art: A Pocket Guide to Key Movements, Works, Themes, & Techniques (Art History Introduction, A Guide to Art)

by Susie Hodge (Illustrator)

The Short Story of Art is a pocket guide to key movements, works, themes and techniques – a new and innovative introduction to the subject of art. Simply constructed, the book explores 50 key works, from the wall paintings of Lascaux to Damien Hirst installations, and then links these to sections on art movements, themes and techniques.

 

The design of the book allows the student or art enthusiast to easily navigate their way around key periods, artists and styles. Accessible and concise, it simplifies and explains the most important and influential concepts in art, and shows how they are connected. The book explains how, why and when art changed, who introduced certain things, what they were, where they were produced, and whether they matter. It demystifies artistic jargon, giving readers a thorough understanding and broad enjoyment of art.

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Art That Changed the World: Transformative Art Movements and the Paintings That Inspired Them

by Alejandro Córdoba Sosa, Artwork by Meli Valdés Sozzani

Art That Changed the World tells the story of every major art style, movement by movement, giving art lovers a visual timeline showing key paintings that sparked each transition and explaining major events that shaped their evolution.

 

Each section features a lavish double-page image of an influential painting that defines each artistic style. Seminal works of genius are portrayed in their historical context, with attention paid to the culture of the time and the lives of their creators.

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A History of Art: Painting from Giotto to the Present Day

by A.N Hodge (Author)

Great artists change the way we look at the world and this book is a beautifully illustrated summary of painting's greatest works. From the glories of the High Renaissance in Italy to the emotional visions of the Romantics, and from the groundbreaking techniques of the Impressionists to the radical canvases of the Abstract Expressionists, this book provides a fascinating look at the major movements in the history of Western painting. A clear chronological structure allows the reader to see each movement in its historical context, and to appreciate the patterns that emerged. The book includes more than 160 beautiful reproductions in color.

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