The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt

The Swerve is a GREAT book to gain background knowledge about Ancient Greece and Rome. The book explains cultural constructs so the reader better understands the past. Greenblatt discusses early book collecting and establishment of libraries, the pests that literally ate the books and other threats to the written word. One MAIN threat to the written word, other than a volcanic eruption that one cannot plan for, is MAN. Words that are in print that go against the grain can be threatening.

The Swerve discusses how the discovery of Lucretius' poem On the Nature of Things changed scholarly perception of the people. This HUMANIST poem breaks down matter into simple particles, atoms, and claims they are the building blocks of all things. The Catholic Church was opposed to the idea as they wished creationism to be the only concept taught.

If you are looking for a story that better explains HUMANISM and the intellectual pursuits of the Renaissance, this is the book for you!


Watch a CBS News author interview from November 2011.
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The Devil in the White City

is a fantastic novel about the CHICAGO architects behind the 1893 World's Fair (the buildings were constructed white, thus the title "The White City"). This non-fiction story was written in 2003 by Erik Larson (the film rights have been purchased...perhaps it will be on the big screen one day).

Reading this novel allows the reader to get to know the personalities behind Chicago's premier architects Burnham, Root, and Sullivan as well as understand the interconnectedness between architects all around the world. The competition among architects and cooperation between them in order to complete a project was a delight to read. It made me wonder if competitors would reach out to one another in this era in order to turn out the best product possible.

A side story is developed in the novel as well. The devil is a doctor that finds elaborate ways to lure people, mainly female, into his confidence and eventually kill them. The story of the building of a crematorium in his home was disturbing!

Art History Reading

I recently completed The House of Medici, Its Rise and Fall by Christopher Hibbert. The book is an excellent read for anyone who is interested in learning HOW and WHY the Medici family had so much influence in Europe.

The book begins with the early influence of the Medici family during the Quattrocento and concludes with the death of the last in the Medici line in 1743. The book contains POWER, INTRIGUE, and ROMANCE. It details the interconnectedness of the Papacy with the lay rulers of the era. No detail is spared. After reading this book, the reader is left with a better understanding of how one family can exert so much influence. Their power was widespread and almost unstoppable.

Great Reads for Art History and Art Students!

I stumbled upon a great website for art history lovers! I discovered a list of BOOKS that art and art history students would enjoy. I personally have read a few: The Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Passion of Artemesia, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and The Agony and Ecstasy.

I am looking forward to checking a few more off that list this summer! Will let you know as I read them and share my insights!

Happy reading ... learn while you are having fun! Check out The 50 Greatest Novels for Art Students before you go to the library or book store. You will find a treasure.

FBI and Art Crimes...

I am fascinated by art that is lost due to conflict. The treasures families’ lost as they were forced to leave their homes during the Holocaust fascinates me. Who rightfully owns the artwork that was not gifted, donated or sold by its owners back in the 1930’s ? Where is that artwork? What a fascinating story it could tell about the numerous hands that have held it and people who have viewed it!

The FBI Art Crime Team has the duty to investigate art thefts. The FBI team looks to not only recover the artwork but also apprehend the person or people responsible for the theft. The book priceless opens up the readers’ eyes to the FBI Art Crime Team. Surprisingly, the team is actually a small group of people. The resources allocated toward recovering stolen art are minimal in the USA. After reading this book, the reader has an understanding of the difficult work the FBI teams members do to recover stolen art. Oftentimes the recovery of stolen art requires the FBI agent to infiltrate the criminal network. It is a dangerous and risky job trying to gain the confidence of the criminals in order to solve the crime.

Read the New York Times Bestseller PRICELESS if you get a chance. A quick and enlightening read! Visit the book's website for more information.

Summer Vacation...Time To READ!

I just completed two great books about Impressionism! I find it rewarding to read books related to art history as I learn a little something about the artists, the culture or the artwork while I read an entertaining story! Who said books cannot inform AND entertain at the same time!

Sue Roe's The Private Lives of the Impressionists is a story that takes the reader into the lives of the artists. I was struck at what a difficult life the Impressionists had! They went against the grain, in an era where that was not fashionable, and struggled personally and financially. In Sue Roe's book, the reader learns how "these desperate and remarkable painters began to cohere as a group...They had one thing in common: the determination to succeed" (45). The group was inspired by Manet's realist artwork but he was not willing to exhibit with them. He did not want to go against the establishment, the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. He had a "notorious reputation [but] still wanted medals, accolades and one day perhaps - like his father - the Legion d'honneur" (64).

The artists struggled in their day. Understandable since they were fighting the establishment. They followed their passion, did not conform and created a new culture in art. They set the scene for the radical breaks from tradition that were to come: Cubism, Expressionism and Color Field Painting to name a few!

Many thanks to Paul Durand-Ruel for believing in them, financing them and opening a gallery in New York City to bring the talents of the Impressionists to America!

The second book I read was Ross King's The Judgment of Paris. King's book was easier to read, even though it was longer, as it went into more detail about the decades that lead up to the era of the Impressionists. King's book was a great companion to Roe's. Through King's book the reader gets more of a historical background into the world in which the Impressionist artists were raised so one clearly understands the cultural influences upon the artists.

King focuses on the work of Meissonier quite a bit in the book. He was a prolific and influential artist during the era that is not mentioned in our Art History textbooks. He was the foil by which the Realists and Impressionists were compared. He created artwork that fell in line with the expectation of the Salon committee and frequently exhibited. The reader gains a new understanding of the artist, a perfectionist, and he key artwork, Friedland. "Few works in the history of art have consumed as much labor [10 years], generated as much rumor and anticipation, been showered with as much money, or simply taken as long to complete" (344).

Up Next on this theme...Dancing for Degas

Books That Art History Enthusiasts Would Enjoy

I recently read a blog post by Accredited Online Colleges that I found interesting and wanted to share. The post, 40 Books That art History Buffs Love, included some familiar titles as well as some I'd like to read!

I just bought The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade that Gave the World Impressionism by Ross King. I am looking forward to reading it!

A book that was new to me that I want to obtain and read is Rembrandt's Eyes by Simon Schama. Schama is a scholar I admire. I became familiar with him in reading his books about Dutch Art in the Golden Age. I am fascinated by is Power of Art videos as well.