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Masterpieces of Fantasy Art

45th Ed.
Series: 45th Edition
4.34 goodreads logo

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( 188 ratings, 40 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
Masterpieces of Fantasy Art explores the vibrant evolution of fantasy art from its origins in 1923 with Weird Tales magazine to its peak in the 1970s and resurgence through trading card games in the 1990s. Featuring original paintings and preparatory sketches by legendary artists like Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, and Michael Whelan, this volume offers an immersive journey through the myths, heroes, and iconic imagery that define the genre. Detailed artist bios provide a deeper understanding beyond the usual sources, making this an exquisite and informative guide to fantasy art’s rich history and cultural impact.
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Format: Hardback
$6299
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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?

This book is perfect for fans of fantasy art, collectors, and anyone interested in the cultural history of speculative illustration, from paperback covers to gaming and film art enthusiasts.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Featuring Julie Bell, Philippe Druillet, Frank Frazetta, H.R. Giger, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Rowena Morrill, and Boris Vallejo, among many others. This book combines original paintings with preparatory sketches, sculptures, calendars, magazines, and paperback books for an immersive dive into this dynamic, fanciful genre.

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

Fantasy art, that colourful blend of myth, muscle, and sexy maidens, took off in 1923 with the launch of Weird Tales magazine. It was reinvigorated in the 1960s with The Lord of the Rings, Conan the Barbarian paperbacks with Frank Frazetta covers, and the late '60s emergence of fantasy psychedelia. It saw significant growth in the '70s with the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, the brilliant French magazine MΓ©tal Hurlant, and the first Star Wars film. The number of active artists peaked in that decade, but a new generation of fans discovered the genre through fantasy trading card games in the '90s, leading to a massive interest in the art form today.

Frank Frazetta's oil paintingsβ€”when they infrequently come to marketβ€”have sold for more than $5 million in recent years. Fans line up at Comic-Cons to meet Boris Vallejo, Rodney Matthews, Greg Hildebrandt, Michael Whelan, and Philippe Druillet, and memorialise dead icons HR Giger, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, and Frazetta.

Masterpieces of Fantasy Art features original paintings, contextualised by preparatory sketches, sculptures, calendars, magazines, and paperback books, for an immersive dive into this dynamic, fanciful genre. Insightful biographies go beyond Wikipedia to give a more accurate and eye-opening look into the life of each artist. This collection will reign as the most exquisite and informative guide to this popular subject for years to come.

Series: 45th Edition

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  • HR Giger. 45th Ed.
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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?

La LibertΓ© praised the book as "at least as epic as its subject." Dian Hanson notes how this art form may have been the first to truly captivate many readers, with its rich colours and fantastical imagery making a vivid impression akin to blood vessels expanding in the brain.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783836593625

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 19 May 2023

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Edition: Multilingual edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 217.0mm

Weight: 1153g

Pages: 512

About the Author

Dian Hanson is a senior editor and writer for TASCHEN, with over 50 books to her credit. In addition to Hal Foster’s Tarzan, her recent works include ARNOLD, The Art of Pin-up, Masterpieces of Fantasy Art, and The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta.

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