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Venice

City of Pictures
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( 63 ratings, 10 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Venice by Martin Gayford, the author explores the rich history and unique atmosphere of Venice through a blend of art history and personal reflection. The book navigates the city's illustrious past and its impact on culture, architecture, and art over the centuries. Gayford weaves his observations with historical anecdotes, providing a vivid portrayal of Venice as a timeless muse and cultural icon.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the rich history and cultural intricacies of one of the world's most majestic cities. The author vividly brings to life the enchanting past of this iconic location, weaving together stories of its art, architecture, and unique character through the ages.

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A visual journey through five centuries of the city known for centuries as, "La Serenissima"--a unique and compelling story for both lovers of Venice and lovers of its art.

A visual journey through five centuries of the city known for centuries as 'La Serenissima' - a unique and compelling story for both lovers of Venice and lovers of its art

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A Sunday Times Art Book of the Year

A visual journey through five centuries of the city known for centuries as 'La Serenissima' - a unique and compelling story for both lovers of Venice and lovers of its art.

Venice was a major centre of art in the Renaissance: the city where the medium of oil on canvas became the norm. The achievements of the Bellini brothers, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese are a key part of this story. Nowhere else has been depicted by so many great painters in such diverse styles and moods. Venetian views were a speciality of native artists such as Canaletto and Guardi, but the city has also been represented by outsiders: J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, John Singer Sargent, Howard Hodgkin, and many more.

Then there are those who came to look at and write about art. The reactions of Henry James, George Eliot, Richard Wagner, and others enrich this tale. Nor is the story over. Since the advent of the Venice Biennale in the 1890s, and the arrival of pioneering modern art collector Peggy Guggenheim in the late 1940s, the city has become a display for contemporary art from around the world, and remains the site of important artistic events.

In this elegant volume, Martin Gayford - who has visited Venice countless times since the 1970s, covered every Biennale since 1990, and even had portraits of himself exhibited there on several occasions - takes us on a visual journey through the past five centuries of the city known as 'La Serenissima', the Most Serene. Venice is a unique and compelling portrait of the city that will delight lovers of both Venice and its art.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Venice by Martin Gayford has been praised for its fresh and original approach to exploring the city's history through its rich artistic heritage. Reviewers commend Gayford's ability to capture the spirit of Venice by intertwining its art, architecture, and cultural history with engaging anecdotes. The book is noted for its vivid prose and insightful observations, rejuvenating the perception of Venice's masterpieces and offering a compelling reason to view the city anew. Critics highlight its elegant writing style and the comprehensive coverage of Venice's influence on art and culture over the centuries.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780500022665

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Illustration: 186 Illustrations, color

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 1160g

Pages: 464

About the Author

Martin Gayford is a writer and art critic. His books include Michelangelo: His Epic Life (Penguin), as well as Man with a Blue Scarf (in which he recounts the experience of being painted by Freud), Modernists and Mavericks, Spring Cannot Be Cancelled (with David Hockney), A History of Pictures (with David Hockney), Shaping the World (with Antony Gormley), and Love Lucian: The Letters of Lucian Freud, 1939-1954 (with David Dawson), all published by Thames & Hudson.

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