What Great Paintings Say. Masterpieces in Detail (Bibliotheca Universalis)

So much information about paintings through the ages, both known and more unusual. Very useful and interesting book.

I expected to see a usual art history approach in retelling the stories the artists tried to tell and the new techniques they’ve mastered but this book surprised me by focusing its attention not on the history of art but on providing historical details usually omitted when one is discussing pictures. For instance instance, instead of focusing on the innovative design on Velazquez’s Las Meninas, artist’s biography, baroque and the golden age of Spanish Art, the book provides interesting details of deterioration of the Habsburg dynasty, the etiquette at the court etc and ties it all in for the figures we see in the painting. So if you are looking for a book which will teach you more about art history, this is not the one (you need to look at Gombrich’s Story of Art for that). But if you are familiar with art history and would like to know what other stories pictures can tell - this book is for you!

I bought this for my mother. She loves her art and she says that she can dip in and out of this book when she is looking for inspiration. Nice book with great pictures.

I think in hindsight that I would have appreciated the works depicted in this book if I had purchased the larger format version.

Tiny print

Not only this book is analyzing famous paintings, but is creating a historic context that is missing from all the other books, so while you learn about the paintings, you learn about the artistic culture and history . This is the most enthralling book on art history!

Such a lovely book, full page imagery, tactile and quality. Images are good in colour and style. Cropped sadly on some and yet others are amazing as they take a bite and blow it up. I cant say anything bad about it except i so wish it was just and inch bigger.

The book is well written and a mine of information covering an extended period of history. Unfortunately the publishers appear to have reduced the physical size of the book ( presumably to reduce cost, the full size version is around £58) so much, that even with my new prescription reading glasses, I find it a strain reading such small type. To me this is a real shame as I can only manage to read about one chapter at a time without eye strain. I should say that yes, like a lot of older people I need reading glasses but I have no special eyesight problems just age. If the type were a bit bigger I would have given the book five stars for its content. Pity there is not a Kindle version so you manipulate type size.

The selection of art is quite arbitrary, but it's an interesting read with many details of well-known (and not so well-known) pieces of art unpacked. More of an art history book rather than criticism.

Es una buena forma de introducirte en el mundo de los cuadros cuando no eres un entendido. Es como si los cuadros te hablasen, a través de la pintura hay toda una historia detrás de ella. Es maravilloso este libro que te introduce en el mundo del arte cuando no eres un entendido en arte.

A lovely way to understand the way famous artists approach their craft and the best of all the meaning of articles and people in the paintings.

insegnato velocemente

This book is really masterpiece, no dout. rich with information. Pictures are classic. letters are small. I recommend this book most. Must buy for all interested in Art. Thanks to amazon.