Fine Arts & Art History

Published in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name, on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC.

A comprehensive and breathtakingly illustrated presentation of the genius of Michelangelo by the world's leading expert on the artist The Italian Renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was especially celebrated for his disegno, a term that embraces both drawing and conceptual design.  Featuring more than 200 drawings as well as paintings, sculpture, and architectural plans and views, this authoritative examines Michelangelo as "the divine draftsman and designer" whose work, according to Giorgio Vasari, embodied the unity of the arts.  Carmen C. Bambach delivers a thorough and engaging narrative of the artist's long career, beginning with his training under Ghirlandaio and Bertoldo and ending with his 17-year appointment as chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.   In each thematic chapter, related drawings and other works are illustrated and discussed together, many for the first time, to provide new insights into Michelangelo's creative process.  In addition to St. Peter's, other featured projects include the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Tomb of Pope Julius II, and the architecture of the Campidoglio in Rome.  Michelangelo's theories of art are also explored, and new consideration is given to his personal life and affections and their effect on his creative output.  Magnificent in every way, this book will be the foremost publication about this remarkable artist for many years. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (11/13/17-02/12/18)

Presenting an important opportunity to assess how black figures have been portrayed in British art, Black Victorians is a fascinating survey of a subject that has been given little coverage to date. It is essential reading for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on a well-documented period of British history. Prize: 'Creating the Performance' award from the Progress Trust in recognition of its role in promoting the understanding of Black history and for work with the Black community through the exhibition.

his publication accompanies the exhibition Everywhen: The Eternal Present in Indigenous Art from Australia, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

A lavishly illustrated, definitive history of America's National Gallery of Art Seventy-five years ago, on the brink of America's entry into World War II, the National Gallery of Art opened in Washington, DC. Founded by Andrew W. Mellon and accepted on behalf of the nation by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mellon's gift included his magnificent art collection and the neoclassical structure that is today's West Building. Since its opening in 1941, the Gallery's singular status as the nation's art museum has continued to attract public-spirited donors. Their generosity has added tens of thousands of superb works of art and has made possible the construction of I. M. Pei's East Building in 1978, the Sculpture Garden in 1999, and most recently a rooftop terrace and new tower galleries in the East Building. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of a beloved cultural institution, America's National Gallery of Art takes readers on a definitive inside tour through the museum's remarkable history. With lively prose and abundant illustrations, this richly detailed volume recounts the development of the Gallery under its four directors--David Finley, John Walker, J. Carter Brown, and currently Earl A. Powell III--and highlights the museum's collections, exhibitions, architecture, and ambience. Later chapters explore the Gallery's new emphasis on contemporary art and its historic 2014 agreement to accept custody of the Corcoran Collection, giving readers and visitors a window onto the future of this national treasure.

Showcasing a selection of seventy-six paintings and works of calligraphy dating from the 9th through the 20th century, this book looks at the influence of imperial taste on the development of Japanese art. Replete with color reproductions, it offers scholars and those interested in Japanese art, a view of Japanese aesthetic sensibility.