Sumptuous treasury of 320 lavish examples of architectural ornamentation from the 1920s and 30s by Paul Kiss; Raymond Subes; Edgar Brandt and other artisans. Meticulously reproduced photographs from three rare portfolios depict magnificent designs for doors; grilles; gates; lamps; balustrades; chandeliers; screens; mirrors; and other objects.
#2299056 in eBooks 2012-07-16 2012-07-16File Name: B00A739VPU
Review
3 of 7 people found the following review helpful. The World of VermeerBy Christian SchlectA book more likely to be enjoyed by the authors fellow art historians and students than the non-academic reader who only admires great art.The young scholar Benjamin Binstock writes with remarkable enthusiaum and deep knowledge while strongly asserting his numerous convictions; which include the suprising one that a Vermeer daughter--not the father--was responsible for several key paintings heretofore attributed to Johannes Vermeer; including "Girl with a Red Hat."Showing his youth; Dr. Binstock types likely art historian skeptics to his theory as "magpies" or "ostriches." It will be interesting to see; as time unfolds; whether other Vermeer experts adopt Dr. Binstocks novel convictions.Meanwhile; the whole intellectual kitchen sink is thrown into this book from the details of Vermeers actual home; to Rembrandt; to Hieronymus Bosch; to religion; to etc. etc. (And; "didactics" is a word that apparently must be used by anyone writing about art.) While at times very interesting; this was simply a tough book for me to read from cover to cover.If you are quite interested in the detailed history of Vermeers art; this is a book for you to purchase. For all others; just buy a nice conventional art book of this masters (or his daughters?) beautiful paintings.As an aside; I think the authors dust jacket photograph (in shadow and light) was inspired by the self-portrait of Rembrandt on page 252.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. fascinating; readable; informativeBy R BrooksI found this book fascinating; readable and very informative. Binstock has a genuinely fresh perspective on both a star of the art world and the process by which such stars are made. I admire his ability to step away from standard wisdom and reconsider; for instance in being the first Vermeer scholar to attempt a chronological ordering of his work. He tries to explain inconsistencies others have left unexplained; no one can be correct 100% of the time but at least he is trying; and I enjoy following his reasoning.The portait of Vermeers family life; including the revelation of the identity of the "unknown apprentice"; is immensely interesting and lots of fun. On the whole I find Binstocks conclusions very plausible. They may upset some but his path to them is authentic and he does an excellent job backing them up.I think this is a good book for anyone who wants to learn about Vermeer as well as enjoy his paintings. Through his eloquence; his passion for his subject and an remarkable knack for identifying; connecting and making sense of critical detail; Binstock encourages us to grasp the whole of the man and the artist as best we can. To him; Vermeer and other artists are fit objects of passion and vital interest for anyone who has been moved by the works. I am not an art historian but I felt the respect the author has for me as someone who (like him) loves Vermeer.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. The Pinnacle of Vermeer StudiesBy Michael PreteBinstock has done what most art historians have failed to do in the past: apply rigorous scholarship into a fun; amusing; tour de force read. He has combined the canonical works on Vermeer and taken them one step further; presenting convincing arguments that piece together a plausable history of the "Sphinx of Delft."The other reviews here unfairly portray the book as academic; but anyone with an interest in Vermeer; art history or art in general would be fascinated by the conclusions made; and the methods used along the way.