Masters of Art
2 total works
Lucian Freud dedicated his life to portraying the people in his world without flattery or refinement. Although his technique and style evolved tremendously over the decades, Freud never wavered in his uncompromising standards or unsentimental approach to his subjects. This introduction to Freud’s life and oeuvre opens with an illuminating essay that explores how Freud’s adherence to realism and focus on the human figure moved him in and out of the spotlight until the 1980s when renewed international interest in painting and figuration gave his work a new significance. Stunning reproductions of key works are presented chronologically, allowing readers to see how Freud’s brushwork, composition, and use of light evolved over the decades. Whether he was painting members of the royal family or the cashier at a London nightclub, Freud imbued his portraits with psychological tension, humanity, and a profound interest in the relationship between painter and model.
Although Bosch’s known works amount to no more than two dozen paintings and a handful of drawings, the artist had an enormous impact on religious imagery during his lifetime and for centuries afterward. His enigmatic and mind-bending depictions of humans, animals, and nature undoubtedly influenced the surrealist movement of the 20th century. This book explores Bosch’s works in terms of medieval morality, the religious beliefs of his time, and the Northern Renaissance in general. This elegant volume offers exquisite, full-colour reproductions that afford readers the opportunity to linger over the works’ amazing details. The accompanying text examines Bosch’s singular place in the canon of Western art, as a revolutionary portrayer of the imagination, and as a pioneer in the depiction of heaven and hell.