"Lucas van Leyden (1494?-1533) was a remarkably versatile artist. His art, noted for its realism, dramatic power, and careful execution, ranges from the small half-length narratives of his youth to the carefully constructed, multifigured representations of his later years." "Until quite recently Lucas's oeuvre was inflated with inferior copies or stylistically unrelated works, leading one scholar to describe his painting career as inconsistent and illogical. Within the last fifteen years, however, his production and development as a painter have been redefined. Despite this renewed interest, The Paintings of Lucas van Leyden is the first comprehensive appraisal of Lucas's paintings." "Smith's survey of the biographical data focuses on Lucas's disputed birth date, his artistic training, and his travels to the southern Netherlands, which brought him into contact with two of the most significant northern artists of the early sixteenth century, Albrecht Durer and Jan Gossaert. Smith reveals the influence of their work, along with the prints of Marcantonio Raimondi, on Lucas's stylistic development. His paintings are also examined with reference to recurring thematic motifs. The early allegorical genre panels - with depictions of gaming, fortune-telling, and betrothal scenes - constitute an important transition in the movement of Netherlandish art away from its roots in the medieval church, providing Lucas with themes that reappeared in his later years. Most significant, the underlying topos of the Power of Women, with its corollary warning against the temptations of the flesh, was repeated in certain of his Old Testament paintings." "The catalogue raisonne contains entries on the extant originals as well as the numerous sixteenth- and seventeenth-century copies after lost works. These inclusions double the number of compositions firmly in Lucas's oeuvre, providing us with a richer understanding of his accomplishments as a painter." "This book will be an important addition to the history of Netherlandish art, as well as an aid to students of Flemish, German, and Italian art. In addition, it should appeal to cultural historians who are concerned with issues such as the representation of women, allegories of gaming, and artistic responses to the Reformation."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Renaissance of Etching is a groundbreaking study of the origins of the etched print. Initially used as a method for decorating armor, etching was reimagined as a printmaking technique at the end of the fifteenth century in Germany and spread rapidly across Europe. Unlike engraving and woodcut, which required great skill and years of training, the comparative ease of etching allowed a wide variety of artists to exploit the expanding market for prints. The early pioneers of the medium include some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, such as Albrecht Dürer, Parmigianino, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder, who paved the way for future printmakers like Rembrandt, Goya, and many others in their wake. Remarkably, contemporary artists still use etching in much the same way as their predecessors did five hundred years ago. Richly illustrated and including a wealth of new information, The Renaissance of Etching explores how artists in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and France developed the new medium of etching, and how it became one of the most versatile and enduring forms of printmaking. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Verdana}

Issued in connection with an exhibition held Oct. 5, 2010-Jan. 17, 2011, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and Feb. 23-May 30, 2011, National Gallery, London (selected paintings only).

Discusses the significance and history of printmaking and evaluates 700 prints.

Gathered in honor of John Michael Montias (1928–2005), the foremost scholar on Johannes Vermeer and a pioneer in the study of the socioeconomic dimensions of art, the essays in In His Milieu are an essential contribution to the study of the social functions of making, collecting, displaying, and donating art. The nearly forty essays here by—all internationally recognized experts in the fields of art history and the economics of art—are especially revealing about the Renaissance and Baroque eras and present new material on such artists as Rembrandt, Van Eyck, Rubens, and da Vinci.

The evolution of New Zealand's national art collection is closely linked with the story of Aotearoa New Zealand itself--its places, its people, and its developing sense of identity. Art at Te Papa spans the Museum's collection from superb early European prints to exciting contemporary acquisitions. Te Papa's curators have selected more than 400 artworks, each one beautifully reproduced and accompanied by an engaging mini essay. Works by international artists--from Rembrandt to Mapplethorpe--feature alongside iconic New Zealand art by Charles Goldie, Rita Angus, Bill Hammond, and many more. Lesser-known artworks will also surprise and delight. This special deluxe edition of Art at Te Papa is a treasure to inform, inspire, and delight all New Zealanders and lovers of art.