Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:22:45 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/how-to-design-a-house-36-114500.html How to Design a House tells you everything you need to know and looks at the principles and processes of designing a house, giving an insight into the design and building process. In a working case study John Pawson, one of the world s best-known architects, traces the design and development of his own house and reveals what it takes to create a successful blueprint.

Author: DESIGN MUSEUM  Publisher: HACHETTE]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/how-to-design-a-chair-36-114495.html How to Design a Chair tells you everything you need to know and looks at the principles and processes of designing a chair, from its symbolic and functional properties to materials and mass-production techniques. In a working case study Konstantin Grcic, one of the world s best-known furniture designers, traces the design and development of one of his most successful chairs - the Myto - from start to finish and reveals what it takes to create a successful design.

Publisher: HACHETTE]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/how-to-design-a-light-36-114496.html How to Design a Light tells you everything you need to know and looks at the principles and processes of designing a light. In a working case study Arnold Chan, one of the world s best-known lighting designers, traces the design and development of one of his installation at the London restaurant Hakkasan, and reveals exactly what is involved in creating a successful design.

Publisher: HACHETTE]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/how-to-design-a -typeface-36-114499.html How to Design a Typeface tells you everything you need to know and looks at the principles and processes of designing type, from its historical roots and interaction with materials and techniques to developing digitized type for modern use. In a working case study Jonathan Barnbrook, one of the world s foremost typographers, traces the design and development of his typeface Priori from start to finish and reveals what it takes to create a successful design.

Author: DESIGN MUSEUM  Publisher: HACHETTE]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/ways-of-seeing-36-1256.html Seeing comes before words. The child looks and recognizes before it can speak. But, there is also another sense in which seeing comes before words. It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world. The relation between what we see and what we know is never settled. This is a book on art in various languages.

Author: Berger, John  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/drawing-book-36-81337.html Whether you are a beginner or just keen to improve your skills, become a drawing expert with the latest masterpiece from Anatomy for the Artist author Sarah Simblet. From pencils to silverpoint, stepbystep illustrations take you through the basics to more advanced techniques, across a wide range of subjects including still life, the human body and architecture. Stunning an excellent reference book, illuminated by splendid photographs Artists & Illustrators magazine on Anatomy For The Artist

Author: Simblet, Sarah  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/art-book-mattisse-36-102323.html Saturated with bright colour, the dazzling paintings of Henri Matisse are celebrations of light and pattern. Follow the long and passionate life of the greatest colourist of the 20th century.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/art-deco-36-102324.html The definitive, allcolour guide for any Art Deco enthusiast, showcasing over 1,000 individually priced items. With uptodate tips and advice from bestselling expert Judith Miller, this glorious guide will show you all you need to know about Art Deco. From Clarice Cliff to Chanel, you can't afford to buy or sell without it. Judith is the ideal expert to guide both amateur and experienced collectors ...' Homes and Interiors

Author: Miller, Judith  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/beaded-jewellery-36-102325.html Explaining common beading techniques, this work contains information on which colours to choose, what equipment you will need and also how to find the best beads. It features 18 stepbystep projects that are suitable for the home, including beginner, intermediate and advanced projects to suit different abilities.

Author: Brenner, Maya  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/england-s-thousand-best-houses-36-102326.html England's houses are a treasure trove of riches and a unique, living record of the nation's history. Simon Jenkins's magnificent guide selects the finest palaces, mansions, halls, castles and cottages throughout the land, from the stately to the humble, in a glorious celebration of English life.

Author: Jenkins, Simon  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/eyewitness-companion-guides-architectu-36-102327.html From airports to Ziggurats, this title explores the world s greatest buildings with illustrations that take you to the heart of the world s landmark buildings. Featuring major historical styles, and covering parts of the world, it is suitable for architecture enthusiasts, and discovers 5,000 years of architectural design, style, and construction.

Author: Glancey, Jonathan  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/my-party-art-class-36-102328.html It's Party Time! Encourage your child's imagination and bolster their confidence with funky projects they will love to create at or for their very own party. From a Garden Party to an Underwater Party, invitations and party bags you can throw a party for any occasion! Each project uses material found around the home, and is accompanied by clear stepbystep photography so when you ask will children really want to create these things?...The answer with this book is a resounding YES! The Guardian, 2003.

Author: Shepherd, Nellie  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/story-of-architecture-the-36-102329.html The author conducts an inspiring journey through 5,000 years of magnificent buildings, from ancient Sumeria to the spectacular glassandsteel towers of today's cityscapes. This title presents a collection of fullcolour photographs, artworks, and plans that creates a story of architecture.

Author: Jonath, Glancy & Foster Norman  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/story-of-painting-36-102330.html Through more than 450 masterpieces, the author unfolds the story of 800 years of Western painting from Giotto, the Renaissance and Impressionism, to Pop Art and the present day. Sister Wendy scrutinizes in depth 50 of the world's most famous paintings, among them Picasso's The Nude Woman, Monet's The Waterlily Pond, and Botticelli's The Birth of Venus. Using enlarged details, she reveals hidden meanings, explains content, and gives us a clearer understanding of the influences that inspired the artists.

Author: Beckett, Wendy  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/american-masterpieces-36-102331.html One of the world's bestloved art historians, Sister Wendy Beckett combines her considerable knowledge of art history and modern art with her unique powers of observation to create a personal anthology of over 115 of the greatest masterpieces in American painting. From Albers and Audubon to Warhol and Wyeth, the artists are arranged alphabetically, each represented by one or two key works. Homegrown American favourites such as Homer and Hopper are presented alongside pioneering Europeans who became active in the US, including Duchamp, Hockney and De Kooning, to create a striking juxtaposition of artistic styles and achievements. White Flag by Jasper Johns, Early Sunday Morning by Edward Hopper, Blue Poles No. II by Jackson Pollock and MMaybe (A Girl's Picture) by Roy Lichtenstein are among the icons of American art featured in this broadranging collection. Sister Wendy Beckett offers insights into even the most famous paintings, chronicling the key movements, developments and artists in the history of American painting.

Author: Beckett, Wendy  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/antiques-detective-tips-and-tricks-to-36-102332.html A guide to spotting, buying and collecting antiques. It shows how to find a genuine antique piece from a fake. It includes expert advice on makers, questions to ask, tips for identifying the best examples in furniture, ceramics, glass, silver, dolls, teddy bears, and textiles.

Author: Miller, Judith  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/art-a-world-history-36-102333.html Arranged geographically and chronologically, this book brings together all the major movements in art, architecture and the visual arts over the past 800 years. From prehistoric cave paintings to Postmodernism and presentday computer art, each period is placed in its historical and social context. Authorative text is accompanied by indepth discussion of movement and artists which help to explain the inspiration and hidden meanings behind great masterpieces.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/art-eyewitness-compainions-36-102334.html A visual guide to enjoying and appreciating art. It helps readers discover how masterpieces were created and where they can be viewed. It is suitable as a museum and gallery companion.

Author: Cumming, Robert  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/art-book-giotto-36-102335.html This art guide examines the life and work of Giotto and analyses his masterpieces in detail, placing them in their social and historical context.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/beatrix-potter-s-art-paintings-drama-36-102336.html Beatrix Potter's Art Paintings & Drama

Author: Hobbs, Anne & Potter, Beatrix  Publisher: WARNE]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/bernini-36-102337.html Sculptor and architect Bernini was the virtual creator and greatest exponent of Baroque in 17th century Italy. He has left his greatest mark on Rome where Papal patronage provided him with enormous architectural commissions.

Author: Hibbard, H  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/botany-for-the-artist-an-inspirational-36-102338.html An inspirational guide to drawing plants An intimate understanding of botany will help any artist create vibrant and realistic art. Sarah Simblet's masterclass provides you with an awareness and appreciation of plants and flowers and shows how to apply that knowledge to your art. Covering every type of plant, from the tiniest mosses and lichens to sumptuous flowers and trees, Sarah shows how to evoke their beauty on your canvas or page. Drawing on the rich history of botanic art and combined with Sarah's practical drawing classes, over 350 beautiful illustrations and vivid photographs, provide an indepth look at roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits and explain how to create lifelike drawings. For anyone wishing to master the art of drawing plants or for all those passionate about plants and how they are portrayed in art.

Author: Simblet, sarah  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/bright-earth-36-102339.html Bright Earth

Author: Ball, P  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/britain-s-buildings-place-spaces-36-102340.html This book offers a stunning exploration of the wonder of Britain's architecture with Ptolemy Dean, presenter of BBC2's Restoration. From Churches and Cathedrals to Music Halls and Country Houses explore Britain with Ptolemy Dean, presenter of BBC2's Restoration. Take a look around Britain's best buildings and explore our unique relationship with our surroundings through expert insight from Ptolemy and his personal illustrations. This book includes a foreword from architecture expert and author of England's Thousand Best Churches, Simon Jenkins.

Author: Dean, Ptolemy  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/complete-home-crafts-36-102341.html Combining practical knowhow and ideas with easytolearn, stepbystep techniques, this book shows how to make such things as a kaleidoscope cushion for a sofa, and how to revamp an old tray with decoupage. Other techniques include gilding, ceramics, beadwork, fabric painting and papier mache.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/design-as-art-36-102342.html Sets out the author s ideas about visual, graphic and industrial design and the role it plays in the objects we use everyday.

Author: Munari, Bruno  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/drawing-book-the-an-innovative-pract-36-102343.html Helping you develop your drawing talents, the author offers stepbystep instructions for forms right from still life to architecture. She takes you through the basics to more advanced techniques. She covers a range of techniques from quick pencil sketches to finished colour studies.

Author: Simblet, Sarah  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/england-s-thousand-best-churches-36-102344.html Parish churches are England's glory. They enshrine the history of people living far from the capital, court, and Parliament. These people their art, architecture, and faith are seldom recorded or celebrated; their parish church is their most public monument. Simon Jenkins has traveled the length and breadth of England in search of his thousand best churches. Organized by county, each church is described, often with delightful asides, and is given a star rating from one to five. The county sections are prefaced by a map locating each church, and throughout, the churches and their surroundings are beautifully illustrated with color photos. From the Norman grotesques of Kilpeck to the rose Madonna of Willoughby, these parish churches house a museum of vernacular art without equal in the world. Now in England's Thousand Best Churches, Simon Jenkins has brought forth this rich gallery for all to see.

Author: Jenkins, Simon  Publisher: ALLEN LANE]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/england-s-thousand-best-churches-36-102345.html Parish churches are England's glory. They enshrine the history of a peopletheir art, architecture, and faith. As public monuments, they house a gallery of vernacular art, from different periods and in a wide range of styles, that are without equal in the world. Awardwinning English journalist Simon Jenkins has traveled the length and breadth of England to select his thousand best churches. Each entry is prefaced by a map locating the church and illustrated with fullcolor photographs from the Country Life Archive. Organized by county, each church is described, often with delightful asides, and is given a star rating from one to five, with the four and fivestar churches listed as the hundred best. This complete guide is invaluable for anyone interested in touring England's best churches.

Author: Jenkins, Simon  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/england-s-thousand-best-churches-36-102346.html Parish churches are England's glory. They enshrine the history of a people, most of whom have lived far from the capital, court and Parliament. These people their art, architecture and faith are seldom recorded or celebrated. The parish church is their public monument. Simon Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of England to select his thousand best churches. They are of all periods and denominations, though most are mediaeval foundations. Organized by county, each church is described, often with delightful asides, and is given a starrating from one to five. The four and fivestar churches are listed as the hundred best. The county sections are prefaced by a map locating each church and illustrated with photographs by Paul Barker from the Country Life archive. These churches house a gallery of vernacular art without equal in the world. From the Norman grotesques of Kilpeck to the Quaker simplicity of CometoGood, from the painted saints of Ranworth to the mighty fan vault of Sherborne, from the rose Madonna of Willoughby to Sara Losh's Cumbrian homage to love, these works would rank in any national museum. Simon Jenkins has brought this museum, located in some of England's most beautiful places, to public attention and asks that we treasure it for the next millennium.

Author: Jenkins, Simon  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/england-s-thousand-best-houses-36-102347.html A hymn to good architecture, an ode to authentic domestic interiors ...buy, beg, borrow or steal a copy to keep in the car. No other book (apart from his 1,000 Churches) will prompt so many joyous detours' Christopher Hudson, Daily Mail. England's houses are a treasure trove of riches and a unique, living record of the nation's history. Simon Jenkins' magnificent guide selects the finest palaces, mansions, halls, castles and cottages throughout the land, from the stately to the humble, in a glorious celebration of English life.

Author: Jenkins, Simon  Publisher: ALLEN LANE]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/forgotten-arts-crafts-36-102348.html This text brings together in a single volume two bestselling classics, The Forgotten Arts and The Forgotten Household Crafts. Taking the reader on an evocative journey through the worlds of traditional craftspeople, Seymour celebrates their honest skills.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/god-s-architect-pugin-and-the-building-36-102349.html Pugin was one of Britain's architects and his short career one of the dramatic in architectural history. This book draws on letters and drawings to recreate his life and work as architect, propagandist and romantic artist. It presents the story of his three marriages, the bitterness of his last years and his sudden death at 40.

Author: Hill, Rosemary  Publisher: ALLEN LANE]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/great-ideas-15-on-art-life-36-102350.html John Ruskins insights into the need for individual artistic freedom, and his disdain for the massproduction art of the Victorian era, radically altered society s perception of creative design and remain powerfully relevant to our ideas of beauty today.

Author: Ruskin, John  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/heroes-the-ultimate-guide-36-102351.html Gives you the inside scoop on your favourite TV show, Heroes. This title lets you get up close and personal with all the extraordinary characters and their many powers from time travelling Hiro Nakamura and unbreakable Claire Bennet to flying man Nathan Petrelli and murderous Sylar. It also features photographs onset of the show's locations.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/impressionist-masterpieces-36-102352.html This volume presents Sister Wendy Beckett's selection of the greatest Impressionist paintings. There are overviews of key figures in the movement, and over 50 largescale reproductions of Impressionist works by masters such as Cezanne, Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet and others.

Author: Beckett, Wendy  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/introduction-to-watercolours-36-102353.html An introduction to the essential techniques of painting with watercolours in a full range of media. It provides fully annotated, photographic sequences to guide the reader from the first strokes to the final composition, and fullsize reproductions allow closer inspections of great masterworks.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/joshua-reynolds-36-102354.html Here, Ian McIntyre traces Joshua Reynolds' journey from his humble origins as the seventh child of the Reverend Samuel Reynolds in Devon to the splendour and pomp of his funeral at St Paul's Cathedral in 1792. He examines in detail all aspects of his artistic and personal life, including his experimental history and fancy paintings, as well as his betterknown work as a portrait painter. McIntyre also explains Reynolds' thinking about art history in the context of his life in 18thcentury England. Reynolds was a central figure in the development of British art, and in this biography McIntyre explores fully the nature and extent of his contribution.

Author: Mcintyre, I  Publisher: ALLEN LANE]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/leonardo-da-vinci-36-102355.html Clark's study of Leonardo is generally considered the clearest introduction available to the work of the controversial genius. This edition contains 128 plates, integrated into the text; a revised list of dates; an updated bibliography; and a new introduction.

Author: Clark, K  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/lost-buildings-of-britain-36-102356.html In LOST BUILDINGS OF BRITAIN leading historian Simon Thurley takes a journey into our nation's past and reveals the hidden narratives behind what we have lost from our historic landscape. Today they are ruins, destroyed by fire, neglect, war and even progress. But once they were places of great importance and beauty. Sifting through the remains, Thurley paints a fascinating portrait of how our ancestors once lived and worked. LOST BUILDINGS OF BRITAIN is accompanied by a sixpart television series on Channel 4. The six buildings are Glastonbury Abbey, the Palace of Whitehall, Nottingham Castle, Millbank Penitentiary, Fonthill Abbey and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Author: Thurley, S  Publisher: VIKING]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/made-by-me-36-102357.html A stitchbystitch guide to knitting, sewing and embroidery for children. It offers information on basic sewing, embroidery and knitting techniques.

Author: Bull, Jane  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/matisse-the-master-36-102358.html Presents an exploration of Matisse's world, bringing out the secret life of the artist, whose paintings shocked and infuriated his contemporaries while paving the way for modern art. This second volume tells the story of Matisse's growing artistic maturity and the relationship between his life and art from 1909 to 1954, his glory years.

Author: Spurling, Hilary  Publisher: HAMISH HAMILTON]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/medium-is-the-massage-the-an-inventor-36-102359.html Written by the author who is known for coining the term Global Village , this title illustrates his theories that force us to question how modes of communication have shaped society.

Author: McLuhan, Marshall  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/mirror-of-the-gods-36-102360.html Perhaps the single most revolutionary aspect of the Renaissance was the reemergence of the gods and goddesses of antiquity. In the midst of Christian Europe, artists started to decorate luxury goods with scandalous stories from classical mythology, and rulers began to identify with the deities of ancient religion. The resulting fusion of erotic fantasy and political power changed the course of western art and produced many of its most magical and subversive works.The first book ever to survey this extraordinary phenomenon in its entirety, THE MIRROR OF THE GODS takes the story from the Renaissance to the Baroque. Each chapter focuses on a particular god (Diana, Apollo, Hercules, Venus, Bacchus, Jupiter) and recounts the tales about that deity, not as they appear in classical literature but as they were recreated by artists like Botticelli, Titian, Poussin and Rembrandt. Readers will never see art in quite the same way again.

Author: Bull, M  Publisher: ALLEN LANE]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/my-animal-art-class-36-102361.html This book is designed specifically for toddlers, to encourage them to draw and create in a fun way. It shows how to make things from glue, sticky tape and old boxes. It includes ideas for creating animal friends like Jo the Friendly Caterpillar, Toothy Shark and Mr Croc.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/my-art-class-36-102362.html Its time for toddlers to get out the glue, sticky tape and old boxes in this fantastic book aimed at inspiring individuality, creativity and above all fun. Create a crazy daisy from plastic forks and spoons or make a wish at the wishing tree and invite friends along to make a wish too! There's no such word as can't in this art class because you can!

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/my-puppet-art-class-36-102363.html It's time for toddlers to get out the glue, sticky tape and old boxes in this book aimed at inspiring individuality, creativity and, above all, fun. Create and make friends with Sidney Snake, Bella Butterfly and Elsie Elephant. There's no such word as can't in this art class because you can!

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/myths-of-greece-rome-36-102364.html The timeless stories of the gods and goddesses of Greece and Rome come to life beautifully in this lavishly illustrated edition.

Author: Bulfinch, T  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/palladio-36-102365.html Palladio (150880) combined classical restraint with constant inventiveness. In this study, Professor Ackerman sets Palladio in the context of his age the Humanist era of Michelangelo and Raphael, Titian and Veronese and examines each of the villas, churches and palaces in turn.

Author: Ackerman, J S  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/pioneers-of-modern-design-36-102366.html This is a book on artists and architects from Britain, USA and Europe and how the best remains today where laid by a small group of people who thought and taught as well as designed.

Author: Pevsner, N  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/stitch-dictionary-36-102367.html A comprehensive guide to stitching. It offers a look at over 200 decorative and practical stitches with ideas on how and where to use them. It includes stepbystep instructions and working photographs that help you understand how to create different stitches and how they should look like.

Author: Ganderton, Lucinda  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/story-of-architecture-36-102368.html Photographs supported by architectural plans and diagrams combine with text in this book to tell the story of the history of architecture.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/style-civilization-realism-style--36-102369.html Setting Realism in its social and historical context, this title discusses the crucial paradox posed by Realist works of art notably in the revolutionary paintings of Courbet, the works of Manet, Degas and Monet, of the PreRaphaelites and other English, American, German and Italian Realists.

Author: Nochlin, Linda  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/acrylics-workshop-ii-simple-steps-to-36-102370.html Helps readers improve their acrylics skills and become better artists. This book provides explanations of the principles of painting and encourages readers to tackle subjects ranging from landscapes to still lifes and portraits. It features galleries of contemporary artwork which demonstrate how successful artists approach different topics.

Author: Keable, Karen  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/anatomy-for-the-artist-36-102371.html Unveils the construction of the human body and celebrates its prominence in Western Art. Using photographs of male and female models together with historical and contemptory works of art and her own illustrations, the author shows us how to look inside the human frame to map its muscle groups skeletal strength balance poise and grace.

Author: Simblet, Sarah  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/architecture-of-happiness-pb--36-102372.html Takes the reader on a tour through the history and psychology of architecture and interior design. Looking at buildings across the world, from medieval wooden huts to modern skyscrapers, this title examines sofas and cathedrals, tea sets and office complexes, as well as offering philosophical insights.

Author: Botton, Alain de  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/artist-s-handbook-3rd-edition-36-102373.html Suitable for artists, this title covers different things from pencil drawing to digital printing. It provides the inspiration to experiment with creative techniques and features professional artworks that highlight the use of these skills.

Author: Smith, Ray  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/children-s-book-of-art-36-102374.html From Andy Warhol to Jackson Pollock and Michelangelo, introduce your child to the complete picture of art through the ages and across the world. Featuring the finest works by the greatest artists, it's like having the world's best gallery in your own home. From Van Gogh's self portraits to Miro's Carnival of the Harlequin help your child look beyond the paint and canvas to find out how the art was created and why it was made. Plus, children will be inspired to create their own art with fun projects to try themselves.

Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/on-photography-36-102375.html Photographs are everywhere. They have the power to shock, idealize or seduce, they create a sense of nostalgia and act as a memorial, and they can be used as evidence against us or to identify us. This title examines the ways in which we use these omnipresent images to manufacture a sense of reality and authority in our lives.

Author: Sontag, Susan  Publisher: PENG MOD CLASSICS]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/seven-hundred-penguins-a-unique-celebr-36-102376.html Features a collection of Penguin covers from Britain and around the world. This title presents a celebration of jackets that remain visually distinctive and addictive to us, from the beautiful to the garish, design classics to design oddities.

Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/great-ideas-56-the-work-of-art-in-the-36-102377.html Explores how the age of mass media means audiences can listen to or see a work of art repeatedly and what the troubling social and political implications of this are.

Author: Benjamin, Walter  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/sewing-book-the-36-102378.html Suitable for those interested in sewing needs, this book provides various techniques from machinestitching a buttonhole and attaching a collar, to altering patterns and building a basic sewing kit. It shows hand and machine stitches and techniques. It features 25 stylish projects, for the home and to wear.

Author: Smith, Alison  Publisher: DORLING KINDERSLEY]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/god-s-architect-pugin-and-the-building-36-102379.html Pugin was one of Britain's greatest architects and his short career one of the dramatic in architectural history. This book draws on letters and drawings to recreate his life and work as architect, propagandist and romantic artist as well as the story of his three marriages, the bitterness of his last years and his sudden death at 40.

Author: Hill, Rosemary  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/secret-history-of-georgian-london-the-36-86015.html Georgian London evokes images of elegant buildings and fine art, but it was also a city where prostitution was rife, houses of ill repute widespread, and many tens of thousands of people dependent in some way or other on the wages of sin. The sex industry was, in fact, a very powerful force indeed, and in The Secret History of Georgian London, Dan Cruickshank compellingly shows how it came to affect almost every aspect of life and culture in the capital.nnExamining the nature of the sex trade and the sort of people who became involved in it, he looks at the ways in which it shaped Georgian London. He offers a tantalising insight into the impact of prostitution to give us vivid portraits of some of the women who became involved in the world of prostitution. And he discusses the very varied attitudes of contemporaries those who sympathised, those who indulged, and those who condemned. As Dan Cruickshank powerfully argues, these women, and many thousands like them, shaped eighteenth-century London, and they also helped determine its future development.

Author: Cruickshank, Dan  Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE]]> Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/istanbul:-city-of-two-continents-36-97479.html Istanbul: City of Two Continents showcases both the historical as well as the modern aspects of Istanbul-a fascinating capital of two past empires and the largest city in modern Turkey. The illustrations, artistically rendered using digital techniques, feature famous landmarks together with the lesser known but equally evocative areas of modern Istanbul. The historic centre of Istanbul is an overwhelming record of Byzantine, Ottoman and republican history; of incomparable religious buildings, fine secular architecture, and bustling commerce. To the north, across the fabled Golden Horn, fashion centres, high-rise buildings, and the lastest in shopping malls cater to a thriving economy. To the east lies the Bosphorus. Lined with enchanting waterfront houses, palaces and castles, this bustling waterway joins the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and forms the boundary between Europe and Asia. On the Asian shore, which houses one-third of the city's population in ever-spreading suburbs, the historic co-mingles with fine stores, lively cafes, and tranquil marinas.

Publisher: EDM]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/classical-life-drawing-studio-36-97480.html Classical drawing is staging a comeback. The Art Students League of New York presents a unique and perfect celebration of this revival: a gallery of never-before-published 19th- and 20th-century drawings and invaluable insights from the League's figurative drawing teachers along, with exemplary works by them and their select students. With a foreword by celebrated artist Will Barnet, this collection is the ultimate volume on the art of drawing.

Author: James McElhinney  Publisher: Sterling]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/where-the-streets-lead-36-95924.html The secret life of streets Cities are remembered by their streets, which have a personality all their own. Some are broad and indolent, others brisk and efficient and some resemble courtesans, painted and bright by evening, drab and gritty during the day. Sarayu Ahuja takes a leisurely stroll through streets in cities as different as Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Mumbai, viewing them not in terms of configuration and design alone but also in the context of their history and their sights, smells, sounds and people. In the process she shows the evolution of a city's individual character. She visits bustling Jaisalmer, suspended like a drop of water over a sea of sand; Chandigarh, grand and imperial; Benaras, intimate and feverish with activity; the lanes of Siddpur, secluded and withdrawn from the public eye, and a host of other cities. The outcome is a unique study of Indian streets by a professional architect which, besides being an entertaining travelogue, shows us our streets in a new and revelatory light.

Author: Ahuja, Sarayu  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/pocket-book-of-vaastu-36-95923.html This book presents the highly evolved science of Vaastu in a concise form that makes it easily accessible to the lay reader. Given here are its underlying philosophy, design parameters, basic principles and applications, and also its benefits. The accompanying illustrations make this a useful and handy guide.

Author: Ananth, Sashikala  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/guide-to-vaastu-36-95922.html  ABOUT THE BOOK: In this meticulously researched book, Ananth seeks to place Vaastu in its proper perspective as a highly evolved science, ridding it of the myths surrounding it. She examines the schools of thought existing in the tradition, the system's application, and the responsibilities of the designer. Supplemented with beautiful illustrations, this book is an authoritative text which combines traditional wisdom with the needs of a modern and transitional society.

Author: Sashikala, Ananth  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/laurie-baker-36-95921.html The definitive biography of Laurie Baker Laurie Baker has worked in India for over forty years and is renowned for being one of the very few architects in the world to have designed and built buildings as diverse as fishermen’s huts, computer institutes, private homes, hostels, hospitals, churches, technical institutes, auditoriums, film studios and tourist centres. His distinctive brand of architecture, usually moulded around local building traditions (especially those of Kerala, his adopted home state in South India), is instantly identifiable and has, unsurprisingly, revolutionized traditional concepts of architecture in India. Baker’s architecture is responsive, uses local materials and lays stress on low-cost design. This biography of Laurie Baker, like his work, is direct, simple and comprehensive; further embellished with sketches, plans, photographs and some of Baker’s own writings, the book offers the professional architect as well as the layman a fascinating view of the life, methods and thoughts of an unorthodox genius.

Author: Bhatia, Gautam  Publisher: PENGUIN]]> Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/scribble-scribble-scribble-36-86020.html ‘Wednesday brought a pungent sheepy smell emanating from the greyish lamb and barley soup my mother optimistically called ‘Taste of the Garden of Eden’. Expel me, please. Haddock in the air? That would be Thursday. The faintest whiff of roasting garlic? That would be what my sister and I uncharitably dubbed ‘Friday Night Memorial Chicken’; a venerable object smeared on the breasts with a dab of marmite meant to cheer the bird up as it emerged defeated from the oven. Rattling inside the brittle cavity was that one solitary clove of garlic; the exotic knobble that my mother conceded as a romantic touch amid the iron regimen of her unvarying weekly routine.’ Cookery is not necessarily a subject one immediately associates with Simon Schama - one of Britain’s most distinguished historians and commentators. But this selection of his occasional writings is a treasure trove of surprises. Passionate, provocative, entertaining and informative, Scribble, Scribble, Scribble ranges far and wide: from cookery and family to Barack Obama, from preaching and Shakespeare to Victorian sages, from Charlotte Rampling and Hurricane Katrina to 'The Fate of Eloquence in the Age of The Osbornes'. Never predictable, always stimulating, Scribble, Scribble, Scribble allows us to view the world, in all its diversity, through the eyes of one of its most original inhabitants.

Author: Schama, Simon  Publisher: Bodley Head]]> Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/secret-history-of-georgian-london-the-36-86014.html Georgian London evokes images of elegant buildings and fine art, but it was also a city where prostitution was rife, houses of ill repute widespread, and many tens of thousands of people dependent in some way or other on the wages of sin. The sex industry was, in fact, a very powerful force indeed, and in The Secret History of Georgian London, Dan Cruickshank compellingly shows how it came to affect almost every aspect of life and culture in the capital. His approach is an ambitiously wide-ranging one. He examines the nature of the sex trade and the sort of people who became involved in it. He looks at the ways in which it shaped the building of Georgian London, from the smart new streets that sprang up in Marylebone to the squalid alleys around Charing Cross, and from the coffee houses where many prostitutes operated to the popular bathhouses, or bagnios, now known to us often only from fleeting references and tantalising archaeological remains. He examines the impact of prostitution on the arts and, in particular, on such artists as William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds. And he discusses the very varied attitudes of contemporaries – those who sympathised (the writer Richard Steele, for example), those who indulged (including the notorious Sir Francis Dashwood), and those who condemned (not least Saunders Welch, author of A Proposal to Render Effectual a Plan to Remove the Nuisance of Common Prostitutes from the Streets of This Metropolis). Finally, he draws on memoirs, newspaper accounts and court records to give us vivid portraits of some of the women who became involved in the world of prostitution. As Dan Cruickshank powerfully argues, these women, and many thousands like them, shaped eighteenth-century London, and they also helped determine its future development.

Author: Cruickshank, Dan  Publisher: Random House Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/on-ugliness-36-50356.html This book is the follow up to the previous volume On Beauty. Apparently beauty and ugliness are concepts that imply each other, and by ugliness we usually mean the opposite of beauty, so all we need do is define the first to understand the nature of the second. But the various manifestations of ugliness over the centuries are richer and more unpredictable than is commonly thought. The anthological quotations and the extraordinary illustrations in this book lead us on a surprising journey among the nightmares, terrors, and loves of almost three thousand years, where acts of rejection go hand in hand with touching gestures of compassion, and the rejection of deformity is accompanied by decadent ecstasies over the most seductive violations of all classical canons. Among demons, madmen, horrible enemies, and disquieting presences, among horrid abysses and deformities that verge on the sublime, among freaks and the living dead, we discover a vast and often unsuspected iconographic vein. So much so that, on gradually encountering in these pages the ugliness of nature, spiritual ugliness, asymmetry, disharmony, disfigurement, and the succession of things sordid, weak, vile, banal, random, arbitrary, coarse, repugnant, clumsy, horrendous, vacuous, nauseating, criminal, spectral, witchlike, satanic, repellent, disgusting, unpleasant, grotesque, abominable, odious, crude, foul, dirty, obscene, frightening, abject, monstrous, hair-raising, ugly, terrible, terrifying, revolting, repulsive, loathsome, fetid, ignoble, awkward, ghastly and indecent, the first foreign publisher to see this book exclaimed: ‘How beautiful ugliness is!’

Author: Eco, Umberto  Publisher: Harvill Secker]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/tiepolo-pink-36-86018.html The eighteenth-century Venetian painter Giambattista Tiepolo spent his life executing commissions in churches, palaces, and villas, often covering vast ceilings like those at the W

Author: Calasso, Roberto  Publisher: Bodley Head]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/red-36-86019.html China’s Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was launched by the Chinese Communist Party in May 1966 and it ended with the death of Mao in 1976. The ten years of upheaval can now be seen as a great tragedy, which has been acknowledged within China itself as a ‘cultural desert’ in the nation’s intellectual history. The scale of the human cost is unknown. The extent of the physical loss of the national heritage was huge. However, as a mass movement in which an unparalleled visual experience was imposed on and executed by the population of eight hundred million people, there is no historical precedent. The art of the revolution eliminated any distinction between artists and the masses. The method was propagandist. The result was the glorification of the great leader, whose beneficent rays symbolically nourished the nation. The language of the revolution and its art was red. Jiang Jiehong, who grew up in Shanghai in the shadow of the revolution, has challenged our conventional dismissal of these bleak years, by uncovering extraordinary visual dynamics. He has brought to light incredible photographs of the period together with painting, graphics and even images of dance. Contemporary Chinese art exists as a reaction against the conformity of those years, yet a spirit of rebellion, ironically, lies at the heart of the revolution itself. This is the first study to place the imagery of the period into a context in which the historical desert can be re-appraised as somewhere more fertile. The complexity of contemporary China is impossible to appreciate without an understanding of the radical cultural upheaval of these years. Red has shaped the collective memory.

Author: Jiehong, Jiang H  Publisher: Jonathan Cape]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/on-beauty-36-50363.html Beauty is neither a history of art, nor a history of aesthetics but Umberto Eco draws on the histories of both these disciplines to define the ideas of beauty that have informed sensibilities from the classical world to modern times. In terms of form and style, Beauty has been conceived for a vast and diversified readership: taking in painting, sculpture, architecture, film, photography, the decorative arts, novels and poems, it offers a rich and intelligent panorama of this huge subject. It traces the philosophy of aesthetics through history and examines some of the many treatises that have sought to define it. Beauty is Umberto Eco at his most captivating and eclectic: we read not only of Botticelli and Michelangelo but of how the fashion of the 1960s owes much to ancient Egyptian dress, and how ancient Roman and eighteenth-century hairstyles have much in common. It makes the familiar new, and sheds a brilliant new light on the unfamiliar. Illustrated in full colour throughout and produced to the highest standards, Beauty is an indispensable book.

Author: Eco, Umberto  Publisher: Secker]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/camera-lucida-36-50409.html Examining the themes of presence and absence, the relationship between photography and theatre, history and death, these 'reflections on photography' begin as an investigation into the nature of photographs. Then, as Barthes contemplates a photograph of his mother as a child, the book becomes an exposition of his own mind.

Author: Barthes, Roland  Publisher: Vintage Classics]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-kitchens-36-82936.html Instead of leafing through a plethora of magazines for kitchen decorating ideas, now you can find all the inspiration and useful advice youll ever need in one book Good Homes 101 Kitchens. Guaranteed to help you find the look that you want, the 101 kitchens are grouped by style: Contemporary Traditional/Classic New England/Quaker Budget Country Retro Each kitchen is illustrated with a full-colour photo and accompanied by invaluable information from the Good Homes team on the specific features of the room, including colour, lighting, accessories and flooring. With a directory of useful suppliers at the back of the book youll have everything you need to recreate the look for yourself. So whether youre planning a complete transformation or simply looking for quick facelift ideas, Good Homes 101 Kitchens will help you create the kitchen of your dreams.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-ideas-for-upstairs-36-82937.html 101 Ideas for Upstairs presents 101 looks for bedrooms and bathrooms from cool modern to warm country with a touch of tradition and a little breathtaking colour thrown in for good measure. Theres something about bedrooms and bathrooms that gives people the confidence to be a little daring and experimental. Whether youre playing safe or going for broke, a little guidance, a few fresh ideas and the guarantee that all the ideas work is good news indeed. The book is divided into two key sections, bedrooms and bathrooms, and each is then subdivided into key styles. Each room is illustrated with a beautifully shot full-colour photograph and in-depth advice on how to create the look at home. Choosing colour, mixing pattern, how to be creative with lighting and the all-important finishing touches are all explored in a way that will provide invaluable insight into the rules of decorating.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-bedrooms-36-82938.html Instead of leafing through a plethora of magazines for bedroom decorating ideas, now you can find all the inspiration and useful advice youll ever need in one book Good Homes 101 Bedrooms. Guaranteed to help you find the look that you want, the 101 bedrooms are grouped by style: Contemporary Classic Country Creative Budget Bohemian Each bedroom is illustrated with a full-colour photo and accompanied by invaluable information from the Good Homes team on the specific features of the room, including colour, lighting, accessories and flooring. With a directory of useful suppliers at the back of the book youll have everything you need to recreate the look for yourself. So whether youre planning a complete transformation or simply looking for quick facelift ideas, Good Homes 101 Bedrooms will help you create the bedroom of your dreams.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-bathrooms-36-83074.html Instead of leafing through a plethora of magazines for bathroom decorating ideas, now you can find all the inspiration and useful advice youll ever need in one book Good Homes 101 Bathrooms. Guaranteed to help you find the look that you want, the 101 bathrooms are grouped by style: Space-saving Contemporary Classic Budget Country Creative Each bathroom is illustrated with a full-colour photo and accompanied by invaluable information from the Good Homes team on the specific features of the room, including colour, lighting, accessories and flooring. With a directory of useful suppliers at the back of the book youll have everything you need to recreate the look for yourself. So whether youre planning a complete transformation or simply looking for quick facelift ideas, Good Homes 101 Bathrooms will help you create the bathroom of your dreams.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/fred-dibnah-s-buildings-of-britain-36-86016.html Have you ever looked at one of our great historical buildings and wondered how on earth it was built? Well now you can get the answer from a man who devoted his life to that question, Fred Dibnah. Fred takes us to some of the country’s most famous castles, cathedrals, abbeys, great houses and bridges, and gives precise explanations of how they were constructed at a time when technology was limited and there were no power tools, no concrete, no steel, no engines and no heavy machinery. Illustrated with Fred’s own beautifully executed drawings, published here for the first time, we explore engineering marvels such as St Paul's Cathedral, the Humber Bridge and Blackpool Tower. Fred’s passion for the traditional skills of builders, carpenters, stonemasons and structural engineers shines through on every page. Fred Dibnah’s Buildings of Britain is a celebration of the architectural and engineering feats that made Britain great.

Author: Hall, David  Publisher: Bantam Press]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/empire-strikes-back-the-36-86017.html Indian art has gone through a boom period in parallel with the extraordinary economic rise of the subcontinent from an agrarian state to a high tech axis of the new global economy. With new money came a new gallery system. With bigger spaces came bigger art and the sheer scale of ambition led to a break into the international market, which is always keen to find a new spectacular presence in the art world. The new art has also been created against a background of communal tension and violence. The exploration of identity, a common enterprise for artists internationally, is all the more challenging in the context of India under transformation. Above all Indian artists are faced with the legacy of their history and the ghosts of the Raj. INTRODUCTION BY ZEHRA JUMABHOY

Author: The Saatchi Gallery  Publisher: Jonathan Cape]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/brunelleschi-s-dome-36-86021.html Even in an age of soaring skyscrapers and cavernous sports stadiums, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, with its immense, terracotta-tiled cupola, still retains a rare power to astonish. Yet the elegance of the building belies the tremendous labour, technical ingenuity and bitter personal strife involved in its creation. For over a century after work on the cathedral began in 1296, the proposed dome was regarded as all but impossible to build because of its enormous size. The greatest architectural puzzle of its age, when finally completed in 1436 the dome was hailed as one of the great wonders of the world. To this day, it remains the highest and widest masonry dome ever built. This book tells the extraordinary story of how the cupola was raised, from its conception to its consecration. Also told is the story of the dome's architect, the brilliant and volatile Filippo Brunelleschi. Denounced as a madman at the start of his labours, he was celebrated at their end as a great genius. His life was one of ambition, ingenuity, rivalry and intrigue - a human drama set against the plagues, wars, political feuds and intellectual ferments of Renaissance Florence, the glorious era for which the dome remains the most compelling symbol.

Author: King, Ross  Publisher: Vintage]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/bayeux-tapestry-the-36-86022.html The vivid scenes on the Bayeux Tapestry depict the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It is one of Europe’s greatest treasures and its own story is full of drama and surprise. Who commissioned the tapestry? Was it Bishop Odo, William’s ruthless half-brother? Or Harold’s dynamic sister Edith, juggling for a place in the new court? Hicks shows us this world and the miracle of the tapestry’s making: the stitches, dyes and strange details in the margins.For centuries it lay ignored in Bayeux cathedral until its ‘discovery’ in the eighteenth century.It became a symbol of power as well as art: townsfolk saved it during the French Revolution; Napoleon displayed it to promote his own conquest; the Nazis strove to make it their own; and its influence endures today. This marvellous book, packed with thrilling stories, shows how we remake history in every age and how a great work of art has a life of its own.

Author: Hicks, Carola  Publisher: Vintage]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/judgement-of-paris-the-36-86023.html In 1863, the French painter Ernest Meissonier was one of the most famous artists in the world. The darling of the 'Salon' - that all important public art exhibition held biannually in Paris - he painted historical subjects in meticulous detail and sold his works for astronomical sums to collectors who included Napoleon III himself. Manet, on the other hand, was struggling in obscurity. Famous today as the father of Impressionism, when this books opens he was known only as the sloppy painter of a few much-derided canvases depicting absinthe-drinking beggars and bourgeois gentlemen in top hats. With his usual narrative brilliance and eye for telling detail Ross King has taken the parallel careers of Meissonier and Manet and used them as a lens for their times. Beginning with the year that Manet exhibited his ground-breaking Dejeuner sur l'herbe and ending in 1874 with the first 'Impressionist' exhibition, King plunges us into Parisian life - on the streets and in the corridors of power - during a ten-year period full of social and political ferment. These were the years in which Napoleon III's autocratic and pleasure-seeking Second Empire fell from its heights into the ignominy of the Franco-Prussian war and the ensuing Paris Commune of 1871. But it was also a period in which a group of artists, with Manet in the vanguard began to challenge the establishment by refusing to paint classical or historical subjects and, instead, turning to the landscapes and ordinary people they saw around them. Benign as such paintings might seem today, they helped change the course of history. The struggle between Meissonier and Manet to get their paintings exhibited in pride of place at the Salon was not just about art, it was about how to see the world.

Author: King, Ross  Publisher: Pimlico]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes:-101-finishing-touches-trade--36-86024.html Finishing touches range from plumping up a pile of co-ordinating cushions to arranging a few cut flowers from the garden in a pretty jug. This clever book is packed from cover to cover with quick and easy ideas that will make a real difference to your rooms in just an hour or two. Along with creative little things to make or customize, there's advice on what to buy and, throughout, there's an emphasis on how to arrange or display your own items to best effect. Find out how to turn a few pieces of simple cream china into a stunning mantelpiece display or how to show off special souvenirs and memorabilia in a unique way. There are ideas for every room in the house all supported with clear text that puts the skill of the professional stylist into the hands of every home owner.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes:-101-ways-to-make-more-space-trade--36-86025.html What's the one thing that every home owner would like? More space. It doesn't matter if you are a family of four in a maisonette or a hip couple in a townhouse, somehow there never seems to be quite enough room for you, your things and your hobbies. However, the problem isn't as bad as you might think. For most of us there are ways to make our homes bigger (or at least seem bigger!). From clearing the clutter to cleaning the windows, level one in the Space Programme includes simple, everyday ways to increase the feeling of space in your place. Level two gets down to some serious storage ideas and level three is the full-blown extension that really will change the way you live. In 101 Ways to Make More Space you'll find ways to give rooms a double life, clever visual tricks to increase the sense of space and creative ideas for converting your loft or extending your home, backed up with solid advice to help you put your plans into action.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-ideas-for-downstairs-36-86026.html 101 Ideas for Downstairs is packed with decorating, furnishing, flooring and lighting ideas for living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens. These most public rooms in the house deserve the best attention not least of all because they are often the most expensive to decorate. The book is divided into three key sections, kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, and each is then subdivided into key styles. Each room is illustrated with a beautifully shot full-colour photograph and in-depth advice on how to create the look at home. There are details on everything from choosing colour and mixing patterns to being creative with lighting and finishing touches. The book includes a suppliers directory. As well as being an invaluable source book, 101 Home Ideas for Downstairs will help the home decorator build confidence and the ability to interpret looks and styles to create original decorating schemes for any room.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-creative-touches-36-86027.html Interior designers know that paint, fabric and carpet are only the start of a room scheme: it is the creative finishing touches that really bring a room to life. These smaller details give a room personality a pretty edging on a blind or the way pictures have been grouped above a fireplace. These are the money-cant-buy tricks that professional stylists use every day to make their rooms look beautiful. 101 Creative Touches puts all the expert knowledge of an army of stylists into the hands of the home decorator and provides a wide range of insider secrets with simple instructions to get the ideas off the pages and into their homes. The book is divided by project type into eight sections and each project is supported by a beautiful full-colour photo, a list of whats needed to carry out the technique and easy-to-follow instructions. At the back of the book theres an invaluable list of specialist suppliers for the materials which are used throughout.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-ways-with-flowers-36-86028.html Having fresh flowers in the house is an unbeatable treat. They bring life and character to a room, but how do you make sure they look their best and last more than a day or two? Modern flowers should reflect todays trend for simple, relaxed living and there is a knack to making them look beautifully casual rather than stiffly strangled by the vase. 101 Ways With Flowers is packed with stylish, creative and, above all, easy ideas for everything from combining different colour and flower shapes to making the best use of vases. The book is divided into 8 sections covering different styles all are achievable with the minimum of materials and no special skills. Beautiful full colour photos accompany each idea and the laid-back style is the perfect match for modern interiors. And if you think lifes just too short to arrange flowers turn straight to the special section on quick and easy ideas that can all be achieved in under five minutes.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/good-homes-101-living-rooms-36-86029.html Instead of leafing through a plethora of magazines for living room decorating ideas, now you can find all the inspiration and useful advice youll ever need in one book Good Homes 101 Living Rooms. Guaranteed to help you find the look that you want, the 101 living rooms are grouped by style: Modern Classic Modern country World Creative Laid-back living Each living room is illustrated with a full-colour photo and accompanied by invaluable information from the Good Homes team on the specific features of the room, including colour, lighting, accessories and flooring. With a directory of useful suppliers at the back of the book youll have everything you need to recreate the look for yourself. So whether youre planning a complete transformation or simply looking for quick facelift ideas, Good Homes 101 Living Rooms will help you create the living room of your dreams.

Author: Magazine, Good Homes  Publisher: BBC Books]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/garden-gateways-36-529.html Every one of these nature-filled spaces, created by major architect Michael Glassman, provides a haven for relaxation, an escape from the stress and strain of daily life. Just looking at the superb color photographs will give a gardener inspiration and spark the desire to redesign. On stunning display are candlelit backyards with comfortable furniture, terraces with a calming view, soothing water features and pools, walls that block out the world and ensure privacy, and flowers and shrubbery to delight the eye. Glassman explains in detail how he came to construct each one, carefully listing the problems he encountered along the way.

Author: MICHEAL GASSMAN  Publisher: STERLING PUBLISHING CO]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/a-thousand-splendid-suns-36-695.html A riveting and powerful story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship and an indestructible love

Author: KHALED HOSSEINI  Publisher: BLOOMBERG PRESS]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/metropolitan-home-decorate-36-3904.html Each issue of "Metropolitan Home magazine is filled with photographs of some of the world's most beautiful houses. But making your own home special isn't just about copying photos. Good designers have a vision of what they want to create, and come up with a plan for how best to achieve it. Understanding first the ideas, and then the methods, is the key to taking a house from drab to fabulous. In this book, Michael Lassell, who has been writing for "Metropolitan Home since 1992, goes behind the photos. He uncovers the secrets of the professionals by asking: What did the designer want to do? And how did the designer do it? Each room or style is accompanied by insider's tips where designers reveal their trade secrets. In each case, introductory text explores the homeowner's and designer's goals. The book also explores how they achieved those goals: a "key to the style" box explains the designer's approach with a few key concepts; and "What the Pros Know About" boxes explains how the designer went from ideas to reality. With 200 color photographs, "Decorate provides all the inspiration and expertise to help any home decorator find and achieve high style.

Author: MICHEAL LASSELL  Publisher: FILIPACCHI]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/the-images-of-india-36-47757.html This is the 2005 edition of a book first published in 1989. In this pictorial, you will find an eclectic selection of photographs that lovingly capture the diverse culture of India.

Author: SOPHIE BAKER  Publisher: BOUNTY BOOKS]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/oil-acrylics-36-47832.html Two of the most popular painting media are traditional, rich oils and modern, quick-drying acrylics. With this abundantly illustrated art academy in a book, you'll see exactly how to exploit the properties of these distinctive paints by experimenting with technique, and correcting as you go. Find out all about tools and materials, making those first brush strokes, and mastering basic techniques. Take advantage of the professional tips, tricks, and rescue remedies offered on every page; learn all about using color brilliantly; and begin those very first paintings with confidence.

Author: NICK TIDNAM  Publisher: BOUNTRY BOOKS]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/the-watercolour-expert-36-47942.html The painters of the Royal Watercolour Society--among the finest in the world--present an inspirational showcase of their most innovative ideas. Using a highlighted sample, each artist details a technique that he or she finds particularly effective, and covers the entire process from concept to initial composition. Their enlightening discussions cover such subjects as training the eye, creating special effects, and working with unusual mixtures of paint. By revealing the thinking behind their compositional choices and offering expert tips on materials and techniques, these distinguished painters provide a unique introduction to their art and an intimate look at the creative process. In addition, a brief history of watercolor focuses on such illustrious past Society members as Cotman, Palmer, and Sargent.

Author: NONE  Publisher: CASSELL AND CO]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/indian-painting-36-81313.html The first complete survey of classical Indian wall painting ever published takes readers to the temples of South India, the Deccan, where the world-famous Ajanta and Ellora caves are located, to Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir in the north. By putting each work in its political and geographical context, Seth creates a groundbreaking panoramic look at Indian wall painting. Imagine if half the paintings of the Italian Renaissance had never been photographed until now. How great a revelation would a book presenting those works be? That is the perfect analog for the achievement that is "Indian Painting: The Great Mural Tradition," the first complete survey of classical Indian wall painting ever published. Author Mira Seth, the world's leading scholar on the subject, has personally visited all of the major sites featured in this book, from the temples of South India, the Deccan, where the world-famous Ajanta and Ellora caves are located, to Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir in the north. This book gives an in-depth analysis of the interconnections not only between different schools of painting but also the sister arts of sculpture and architecture. By putting each work in this lavishly illustrated volume in its political and geographical context, Seth creates the groundbreaking panoramic look at Indian wall painting the art world has long needed.

Author: MIRA SETH  Publisher: ABRAMS BOOKS]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.bookvook.com/book/details/the-everything-drawing-book-36-81314.html If you've always wanted to draw but didn't think you had the talent, think again! With The Everything Drawing Book as your guide, you'll learn how to see the world through an artist's eyes-and capture it on canvas. Unlock your creative potential and expand your drawing expertise with: Useful exercises and assignments that help you find your own style Easy tricks for charcoal, watercolor, and pen-and-ink methods Quick tips on perspective and technique, as well as portraiture and landscape drawing Budget-friendly suggestions on how to save a bundle on expensive artist supplies Dozens of original drawings designed to spark your imagination And much, much more!

Author: HELEN SOUTH  Publisher: ADAMS MEDIA]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100