This lavish archive of exquisite engravings and designs--originally created in the mid-nineteenth century for the professional artist and architect--contains some 200 splendid illustrations; expertly adapted from decorative as well as utilitarian features of medieval cathedrals; churches; tombs; houses; shops; public buildings; and other structures. Encompassing a wide variety of styles; the designs include finely detailed panels; gawking gargoyles; marvelously carved pillars and pedestals; exquisite ironwork patterns; decorative stonework; magnificent stained glass windows; moldings enhanced with intricately woven motifs; and much more.Artists; designers; and craftworkers will find wide use for these versatile; royalty-free illustrations. Students of architecture; art historians; and lovers of ornamental art will delight in the pure beauty of this magnificent collection.
#2985460 in eBooks 2013-03-05 2013-03-05File Name: B00A44C37A
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Captivating StoryBy Todd ZenCaptivating story of a Japanese Artist who achieves World Recognition for her work while living in NYC. Her painful obsessive thoughts and hallucinations become the inspiration for Great Art.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Reflective honesty at its bestBy Martina A. NicollsJapanese avant-garde artist; sculptor; and novelist Yayoi Kusama begins her memoir with the Yokohma 2001 International Triennale of Contemporary Art exhibition in which she showcased two installations. She then goes back in time to 1957 when she left Japan to further her career in art in America at the age of 27: lsquo;my destiny was decidedrsquo; in New York. After an initial struggle; she became a successful artist; noted for her lsquo;netrsquo; art and later for her polka dots and lsquo;Kusama Happeningsrsquo; in the 1960s.She painted the same thing every day: black canvases covered with nothing but nets; which looked like white lace. She describes her obsessive repetitive patterns and her lsquo;severe neurosisrsquo; stemming from a lsquo;toxic childhood.rsquo; She says that lsquo;before and after creating a work I fell ill; menaced by obsessions that crawl through my body.rsquo; She suffered hallucinations; asthma; arrhythmia; tachycardia; and high and low blood pressure due to her severe anxieties. lsquo;If it were not for art; I would have killed myself a long time ago.rsquo;Kusamarsquo;s autobiography describes her thoughts behind her artwork; how they developed; and why she focussed on specific themes. It provides readers with a full understanding behind her as an iconic figure and her iconic art. She is exceptionally honest and open about her mental anguish; but also about how she fully comprehends the triggers and how she deals with her demons ndash; initially personally and later with the assistance of professional psychiatrists when she checked herself into a psychiatric hospital.Writing her autobiography in 2001 at 72 years of age; she is now 87; living in the psychiatric hospital; and still painting.This is a fascinating autobiography. This is more than a description of her artwork. It is an in-depth private view of her imagination and creativity; and the neuroses that drives her art as a way to exterminate her fears. lsquo;The positive and negative become one and consolidate my expression.rsquo; She defines her work as Psychosomatic Art. Kusama finishes her autobiography in 2001 in a reflective; calm state of mind; content to continue her art ndash; because she needs to; because she has to; because she wants to; and because it keeps her alive.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Jesus olivasbought this book for my daughter and she loves it