What Makes a Masterpiece Artists, Writers, and Curators on the World's Greatest Art

by Dell, Christopher

• ISBN13: 9780500238790
• ISBN10: 0500238790
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-10-31
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Summary

What Makes a Masterpiece explores the most important works of artever created, from the Chauvet Cave to Ceacute;zanne. It covers art fromAfrica to China, Japan to South and Central America, Persia to SriLanka, as well as a large selection of European works from AncientGreece to Impressionism. Little-known treasures such as the Iberian Lady of Elche or a Maya relief from Palenque appear alongside well-lovedclassics such as Masacciors"s Expulsion of Adam and Ev e or Degasrs"s Little Dancer , creating a fascinating and unique collection of groundbreakingand beautiful works. The book brings together an impressive list of authors: artistssuch as Antony Gormley and Avigdor Arikha, writers includingMarina Warner and Philip Pullman, and cultural figures likeGermaine Greer and Quentin Blake appear alongside curators anddirectors from the Louvre, Prado, Museo di San Marco, BerlinGemauml;ldegalerie, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery ofArt, British Museum, and the National Gallery, London. Intimateknowledge combines with unique insight (and some startling newinterpretations) to create fresh analyses of these works, of as muchinterest to art historians as to the general reader.