What Great Paintings Say: Masterpieces in Detail (Bibliotheca Universalis)

if you're looking to learn, the paintings are covered in detail and the images are beautiful. But the book needed to be about 3-4 inches taller so the text and images can be larger because as is you need a magnifying lens. I am very happy with the book

Wonderful book! I haven’t read it all yet, just about half, but it’s wonderful. I took quite a bit of art history in college, but this book tells you so much more without diving into tedious minutiae. The art included is from many different countries and time periods so you’re learning about art but also culture. I bought two for myself (home, studio) and one for my art student as a gift. Treat yourself!

Yes it is indeed a small book... that you can carry in your bag and take it with you everywhere, all are advantages! It is small, but it is loaded with great information!

Having seen this book in a well known museum in Washington DC, I was drawn to the marvelous reproductions and information (background and foreground in a sense) about the paintings. It's like having an express tour focused on one painting, at your convenience. But the book was so heavy. How was I, should I, carry this (almost) 3 pound book with me all day. No. So given that, I took a picture of the cover and resolved to look into where I could find it later. When home once again. Yep, there on Amazon it was. If only the well known museum had free shipping, I'd have bought from them at retail--but they didn't, so neither did I. Once at home, I bought it and am delighted that I did. For people who need a book to read before sleep, but who eschew electronics--given the interference they can have upon your sleep--this is the read for you. Short, but long enough informational read--but not a full book. So you won't be up all night reading a "can't be put down" book. And no, I am NOT saying it will put you to sleep. But to say sweet dreams, is true. What better than art to dream on, with the addition of more knowledge than you started with? Having volunteered at a large museum in Chicago, this basically is like one of the "express" tours. So before bed, take a tour...and sleep well.

I'm conflicted how to write this review. The content looks great after reading through the first 8 art works (chapters), and overall it's like getting a history lesson through the viewpoints of the paintings (mostly history about the world and the piece itself for the earlier works and then adding more about the artists as the paintings become more well known). I brought this book with me on an international trip to read on the long flights and even with my reading glasses and good light, it just took too much effort to read the small print (and mind you, I'm a graphic designer, I read and deal with small print and details all the time). So my one big one gripe, but really a small one (sorry, designer humor), is the font size...it's 6 point type and if you wear glasses to read, you'll likely not have an enjoyable experience. But also the images are printed beautifully...the paper stock is quite nice, but funny thing about the paper stock...it is so thick/glossy that the airport scanners flagged the book 3 times during my travels because the book was so dense! 😂

This book tells a lot about what information is contained in the paintings--what they show about life during their age. I really liked the painting with the washerwoman in the background and the long rap about the status of white clothing in the middle ages. the whiter you could get your cuffs and collars, the better. Folks actually sent some of their washing to Bruges, Belgium, because it had the purest water. It also talked about the evolution of soap. Why do old Dutch paintings show glasses with knobby stems?? Because people grabbed cuts of meat bare-handed and they got so greasy they wouldn't be able to hold on to their beer!! A great "social history" book.

Fascinating and well-written. The print is small, but to me that is not much of a deterrent to reading this delightful and engaging book.

Very good

Es una buena forma de introducirte en el mundo de los cuadros cuando no eres un entendido. Es como si los cuadros te hablasen, a través de la pintura hay toda una historia detrás de ella. Es maravilloso este libro que te introduce en el mundo del arte cuando no eres un entendido en arte.

A lovely way to understand the way famous artists approach their craft and the best of all the meaning of articles and people in the paintings.

insegnato velocemente

This book is really masterpiece, no dout. rich with information. Pictures are classic. letters are small. I recommend this book most. Must buy for all interested in Art. Thanks to amazon.

I like this book as it has introduced me to great paintings , I'd never heard of. also the reproduction of art works are good, only criticism is the writing is very small , need a magnifying glass