The Middle Kingdom (ca. 2030–1650 B.C.) was a transformational period in ancient Egypt, during which older artistic conventions, cultural principles, religious beliefs, and political systems were revived and reimagined. Ancient Egypt Transformed presents a comprehensive picture of the art of the Middle Kingdom, arguably the least known of Egypt’s three kingdoms and yet one that saw the creation of powerful, compelling works rendered with great subtlety and sensitivity. The book brings together nearly 300 diverse works— including sculpture, relief decoration, stelae, jewelry, coffins, funerary objects, and personal possessions from the world’s leading collections of Egyptian art. Essays on architecture, statuary, tomb and temple relief decoration, and stele explore how Middle Kingdom artists adapted forms and iconography of the Old Kingdom, using existing conventions to create strikingly original works. Twelve lavishly illustrated chapters, each with a scholarly essay and entries on related objects, begin with discussions of the distinctive art that arose in the south during the early Middle Kingdom, the artistic developments that followed the return to Egypt’s traditional capital in the north, and the renewed construction of pyramid complexes. Thematic chapters devoted to the pharaoh, royal women, the court, and the vital role of family explore art created for different strata of Egyptian society, while others provide insight into Egypt’s expanding relations with foreign lands and the themes of Middle Kingdom literature. The era’s religious beliefs and practices, such as the pilgrimage to Abydos, are revealed through magnificent objects created for tombs, chapels, and temples. Finally, the book discusses Middle Kingdom archaeological sites, including excavations undertaken by the Metropolitan Museum over a number of decades. Written by an international team of respected Egyptologists and Middle Kingdom specialists, the text provides recent scholarship and fresh insights, making the book an authoritative resource.

"Mountains of the Heart" explores Japan's landscape through the eyes of a renowned artist and provides new perspectives on a rare painting collection. It is an invaluable study of a landmark masterpiece that profoundly influenced the development of "ehon," or art books, which recorded Japanese life, culture, and geography for hundreds of years. A great master of the Japanese art-book tradition, Bosai eloquently discusses man's interaction with the environment. His work depicts small figures lost in the mist and forests of immense foothills, seeking nourishment for body and spirit. His work instills in the viewer a sense of nature's immense power and our comparative frailty, while still conveying the peaceful mood of the rural locales that he so lovingly immortalizes. Each image, in its serenity, completely captivates the viewer, and draws us into Bosai's world. "One secret of the appeal of "ehon" is that their artists see with such imagination and clarity, draw with such verve, and embrace any subject, however humble or imperfect," explains Roger S. Keyes, curator of a New York "ehon" exhibition, who declares that these books seize and hold a reader's attention, that they provide revelation and inspiration and turn willing readers into artists. "They empower people." This certainly holds true in "Mountains of the Heart," With comprehensive introduction and commentary by Stephen Addiss, this book will inspire anyone interested in the rich history of Japanese art. 22 color spreads, 22 black and white illustrations.

Called "the Fabergé of our time" by Diane von Furstenberg, Joel A. Rosenthal, who works in Paris under the name JAR, is one of the most acclaimed jewellery designers of the past thirty years. JAR is known for his use of precious and semi-precious stones resplendent with myriad shades of vibrant colour and set in organic shapes: one brooch, for instance, features lifelike petals in subtly differentiated hues, made from a thousand pavé sapphires and amethysts. The New York Times has described his jewellery as "belligerent, stubborn, audacious, funny, contradictory", while JAR himself has characterised his work as "somewhere between geometry and a bouquet of flowers". This book, featuring nearly 70 pieces from throughout JAR's career, provides a concise, accessible, elegantly designed retrospective of the best of his jewellery creations, and is the only book of its kind on his work available in English.

Featuring more than 150 treasures from several of the world’s most prestigious collections, Making Marvels explores the vital intersection of art, technology, and political power at the courts of early modern Europe. It was there, from the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, that a remarkable outpouring of creativity and learning gave rise to exquisite objects that were at once beautiful works of art and technological wonders. By amassing vast, glittering collections of these ingeniously crafted objects, princes flaunted their wealth and competed for mastery over the known world. More than mere status symbols, however, many of these marvels ushered in significant advancements that have had a lasting influence on astronomy, engineering, and even international politics. Incisive texts by leading scholars situate these works within the rich, complex symbolism of life at court, where science and splendor were pursued with equal vigor and together contributed to a culture of magnificence.

Published to celebrate The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 150th anniversary, Making The Met, 1870–2020 examines the institution’s evolution from an idea—that art can inspire anyone who has access to it—to one of the most beloved global collections in the world. Focusing on key transformational moments, this richly illustrated book provides insight into the visionary figures and events that led The Met in new directions. Among the many topics explored are the impact of momentous acquisitions, the central importance of education and accessibility, the collaboration that resulted from international excavations, the Museum’s role in preserving cultural heritage, and its interaction with contemporary art and artists. Complementing this fascinating history are more than two hundred works that changed the very way we look at art, as well as rarely seen archival and behind-the-scenes images. In the final chapter, Met Director Max Hollein offers a meditation on evolving approaches to collecting art from around the world, strategies for reaching new and diverse audiences, and the role of museums today.