An Anthology of Decorated Papers

Courtesy Thames and Hudson

An Anthology of Decorated Papers

A Sourcebook for Designers

By P.J.M. Marks

A collection of gorgeously reproduced decorated papers alongside a thoughtful and carefully researched history of this often-overlooked art.

p 12  Paper from the Réveillon workshop in Paris, c. 1745. (detail)

© 2016 The British Library

Decorated papers have been used for centuries, from early as early as 105 AD in the Chinese courts, up to when Benjamin Franklin produced bank notes which were marbled to avoid fraud.  They have been used as wrapping, in bookbinding, as liners, stationary and art. This luxe publication is filled with glorious papers which will thrill almost anyone, especially those with a love of design and the decorative arts.

p 15  Comb-marbled end-leaf from John Evelyn’s gold-tooled leather prayer book, a present from his sister Elizabeth in 1685. (detail) © 2016 The British Library

Sourced from the Olga Hirsch Collection at the British Library, one of the largest and most varied collections of decorated papers in the world, the author, P.J.M. Marks takes us on a journey through examples of brocade paper, block-printed paper, paste papers, gilded, marbled papers and more.

p 130 Eighteenth-century German brocade paper on a green background. Patterned textiles often featured similar motifs. (detail) © 2016 The British Library

P.J.M. Marks is curator of book-bindings at the British Library. Her previous books include The British Library Guide to Bookbinding, Treasures in Focus: Decorated Papers and Beautiful Bookbindings. 

Thank you to Thames & Hudson for the review copy of this book. It can be purchased for your library here. 

Please do leave a comment!

Thank you to my Family, Friends and Followers who support The Arts

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

Cy Twombly: Late Paintings: 2003-2011

It will astonish you that this comprehensive volume of Twombly's later works began when he was already 75 years of age, yet this iconic author produced a body of work so large in scale, dynamic in gesture, and vivid in fervent saturated color. It is very interesting to see the change from some of his earlier works which I have included.

Twombly's career really began in New York City in the early 50's when he worked alongside other great artists, Robert Motherwell, Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Kline, John Cage, Jasper Johns and others. It was also the time of the Jackson Pollock and de Kooning's art explosion.

Ferragosto I, 1961. Oil, crayon and pencil on canvas, 166 X 200 cm (65⅜ x 78¾ in.).

                                ©Cy Twombly Foundation

A very private man, Twombly avoided publicity and let his work speak for itself. Well traveled , well read, he had homes in Lexington Virginia and Gaeta, Italy, both with spacious studios.

Untitled (Winter Pictures), Panel 4, 2004. Polyptych in 10 parts. Masonry paint on wooden panel, 282 x 185 cm (111 x 72⅞ in.).

                                ©Cy Twombly Foundation

Untitled (Bacchus, Psilax, Mainomenos), 2005. Panel 7. Acrylic on canvas, 317.5 X 468.6 cm (125 X 184½ in.). 

                                ©Cy Twombly Foundation

Twombly works  or art are filled with his favored motifs of ancient symbolism, ships, flowers, poetry, and mythological references. Even at this last stage of his life, painting was so fundamental, so essential to Twombly that he produced art of such scale and intensity, that to see it in person is breathtaking. Most of these works have been shown extensively at The Gagosian Gallery in New York City.

Bay of Naples, 1961. Oil, industrial paint, crayon and pencil on canvas, 241.8 x 298.6 cm (94⅛ x 116¾ in.).

                                ©Cy Twombly Foundation

Untitled (Blooming: A Scattering of Blossoms and Other Things), 2007. Acrylic and crayon on wooden panel, 252 X 552 cm (99¼ X 217¼ in.).

                                ©Cy Twombly Foundation

The Rose (IV), 2008. Acrylic on wooden panel, 252 x 740 cm (99½ x 291¼ in.).

                                 ©Cy Twombly Foundation, photo courtesy of the Gagosian Gallery.

Consider purchasing this book for your library; it is full of the monumental and stunning works of art created in Twombly's  later years. http://thamesandhudsonusa.com/books/cy-twombly-late-paintings-2003-2011-hardcover 

My thanks to Thames and Hudson for the review copy of Cy Twombly: Late Paintings 2003-2011.

The author Nela Pavlouskova studied art aesthetics at The University of Paris, Sorbonne, where she wrote her PhD thesis on the works of Cy Twombly. 

Thank you to my Family, Friends, and Followers who support The Arts!

Please sign up for email alerts to receive notification of my latest features and I hope you will leave a comment as they make my day!

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

Turquerie: An Eighteenth Century European Fantasy

This stunning book by Haydn Williams for the first time gives a historic perspective on the eighteenth century European fascination with Turkish culture in fine art, the decorative arts, and architecture.

Travelers and traders  brought home vivid accounts of the Ottoman Empire, the style, the culture, the exotic! For the first time, translations of books such as One Thousand and One Nights brought to light the imagery of this luxurious magnificence. Turquerie is a theme where we see turbaned figures, elegantly draped and languishing royalty. Art and wall panels often featured palm trees, camels, crescent moons, horsetail standards, elaborate follies and tents. Portraits painted in this relaxed manner was new to Europeans, where subjects stood upright to be painted. The zenith of excitement was realized in France; though Turquerie reached far and wide with the construction of a Mosque Folly at Kew gardens in London and Turkish tents constructed in Dresden along the Elbe to celebrate a Royal Wedding.

 

One of a pair of  pietre dure plaques of  Turqs, Galleria dei Lavori,  Florence c 1770 colored hard-stones, gilded bronze frame, French c 1780

Turquerie: An Eighteenth Century European Fantasy

by Haydn Williams

Published by Thames & Hudson (November 2014)

Charlotte Grenville, Lady Williams-Wynn, with her three Eldest Children by Joshua Reynolds, c 1778 oil on canvas. Image Credit: Cardiff, National Museum of Wales/ Photo The Bridgeman Art Library

 

Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes by Antoine de Favray, 1766 oil on canvas.  Image Credit: Istanbul: Suna Inan Kirac Foundation Collection

 

Front elevation ( detail) of the Mosque at Kew from William Chambers. Surrey, London 1763, Plate 26, engraved by Edward Rooker. Image Credit: Riba Library Books and Periodicals Collection

 

Salon Turq of Queen Maria Carolina of Naples and Sicily at The Villa Favorita, Palermo early 19th Century. Photo Credit: Dario di Vincenzo

The Hunt Picnic, one of a set of four decorative panels from the chateau de Ognon-en-Valois by Christophe Huet c 1750, oil on canvas Image Credit: Birmingham Museum of Art, Purchase with funds provided by The Art Fund, Inc and the 1992 Museum and Ball, Photo credit: Sean Pathasema

 

Figure of a Turq on an Elephant, Meissan Manufactory, Model by Johann Joachim Kandler and Peter Reinicke C 1745 hard paste porcelain, contemporary French gilded bronze mounts. Image Credit: Munich: Robbig

 

The Mastiff's Seraglio, by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, 1734, oil on canvas. Image credit: Audap and Mirabaud

 

 

      Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, by Antoine de Favray, 1766, oil on canvas. Image Courtesy of Thames and Hudson         

 Thank you to Harry Burton of Thames and Hudson for the review copy of Turquerie

Turquerie: An Eighteenth Century European Fantasy may be purchased at your local book seller or at Amazon.com 

Much thanks to my Friends, Family, and Followers who support The Arts

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

Please sign up for notification of my latest features via email right here on my site! 

Do leave a comment as they make my day!

 

 

Roxanne Lowit Photographs Yves Saint Laurent

  Book Cover Courtesy Thames and Hudson

All additional images ©Roxanne Lowit. Courtesy of Roxanne Lowit.

Forward by Pierre Berge'

The new release by Thames and Hudson of Roxanne Lowit Photographs Yves Saint Laurent tells the story of this iconic fashion designer, through the magical images of Miss Roxanne Lowit's innovative photography. She had a cherished quarter of a  century friendship with Saint Laurent. They met, along with Andy Warhol in 1978 atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

Lowit was the first to photograph from behind the runway and capture the oh so  stunning backstage scenes of his couture collections and did so until the presentation of his very last collection in 2002.

YSL Opium Perfume Party 1978, Alya Chin

When the Metropolitan Museum of Art unveiled a retrospective of his work; honoring for the very first time a living designer, Roxanne recorded it through her lens as Saint Laurent's official photographer.

Vogue Paris 88' copy 1988, Catherine Deneuve

This fabulous book of high couture fashion includes contributions by Catherine Deneuve, Jerry Hall, Grace Jones, Paloma Picasso, Lucie de la Falaise and more.

Models_head_scarves Ready-to wear Spring 1981. Truly works of art!

YSL New York, 1983

Lowit seemed to appear out of nowhere, surprising  Saint Laurent, and presenting him with this cardboard replica of The Empire State Building as he was getting ready to board a flight to New York City in 1983 to present his collection for the first time in America.

1993_New Haute couture Spring 1993, Shalom Harlow

This luxe book is filled with glorious images of Saint Laurent's chic fashion designs, many being his mystical visions of the exotic and of color filled palettes. He was a master at imparting an intriguing, vibrant story through every new collection.

'85 Haute Couture Fall 1985 

Pink Ruffles Haute Couture Paris Spring 1993, Sonia Cole

Comment after comment reveals the charm of Saint Laurent. He was a quiet, gentle, fun-loving man. During the preparations for his fashion shows he always took the time to put jewels and accessories on his models; making last minute adjustments before sending them down the runway!

The most famous, glamorous and celebrities around the world who wore his designs felt a close affinity to this man, unlike no other, as he personally designed  their ensembles. His influence will be felt forever in the world of Haute Couture.

Jerry Hall, 1995 

Thames and Hudson provided me with the publicity copy of Roxanne Lowit Photographs Yves Saint Laurent. You can purchase this fabulously photographed and wonderfully enlightening book  about this master of creations for your fashion design library at Amazon or your local book seller.

Thank you to my Friends, Family  and Followers who support The Arts.

Please do leave a comment as they make my day!

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

Be sure to sign up for email notifications  so that you do not miss out on my latest features!

Jeff Koons: Conversations with Norman Rosenthal

" I want to be able to experience that revelation and absolute comprehension of opportunity, of what human potential can be, and then to be able to exercise that freedom."

Jeff Koons is undeniably one of the most prominent and iconic of 21st Century Pop Artists. This book of his conversations with Sir Norman Rosenthal, former exhibitions Secretary at the Royal Academy of Arts, London is an eye opener. It is full of depth and perceptions that will surprise and delight you. Sir Norman Rosenthal is also an independent art historian and curator.

Bourgeois Bust-Jeff and Ilona 1991, marble

Well over 250,000 people have viewed the Jeff Koons Retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in Chicago, which is open until October 19th, 2014.

Moon-1995-2000
Mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating 

Two Ball Total Equilibrium Tank-Dr. J Silver Series 1985
glass, steel, sodium chloride reagent,distilled water, two basketballs

Enthusiasm for this  special art event is  not wavering; so in order to make each moment count, the Whitney Museum of American Art in Chicago will be open for a full 36 hour viewing marathon from 11 A.M  on Saturday October 18th until 11 P.M. on Sunday October 19th!

New Hoover Deluxe Shampoo Polishers-1980-1986
Three Shampoo Polishes, Acrylic and Fluorescent Lights

Banality Series: Michael Jackson and Bubbles
1988 porcelain

Jim Beam-J.B. Turner Train 1986
Stainless Steel and Bourbon

Landscape (Waterfall) II : 2007
Oil on Canvas

Rabbit-1986 
Stainless Steel

Jeff Koons is well known for many of his hugely over-sized art installations in public spaces throughout the world.

The Lips-2000 
Oil on Canvas

Please purchase Jeff Koons: Conversations with Norman Rosenthal at Amazon or your local book seller. It is a book for the consummate contemporary art collector and enthusiast!

Thank you goes out to  Thames and Hudson Publishers for this press copy.

Much thanks to my Friends and Followers who continue to Support The Arts

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

Please sign up for email notifications to receive my latest features!

Lastly I appreciate your comments; they truly make my day!