This is a collection of 12 essays on different paintings that are currently present in various public galleries across Britian. Each was written by a different contributor who selected the painting becasue they found it interesting. So what we have is 12 very differerent paintings from different eras and places around Europe, and as many different ways of analysing and appreciating them and picking out their interesting and unusual qualities. As this is a relatively old book, the colour reproductions are not quite up to the standard that they are in modern books, however they are sufficient for the purposes of appreciating most of their obvious qualities.
This is not at all a technical book soley for art history students, though there is a good amount of historical context in some of the essays, as these twelve contributions were initially made for a BBC painting of the month series in the 1960s. This was back when the BBC took culture seriously, and comissioned other excellent art programmes such as Berger's Ways of Seeing. They are suitable then for the general reader (like myself) who has an interest in art but no professional qualification in it. It would also be a suitable book for someone who has never really looked at a painting properly in their life, as the range of works included in this is bound to include at least something to appeal to most people. This is not to say however that this book would not be of value to someone with a more specialised interest, as due to the wide variety of perspectives and types of paintings here, the reader is likely to gain new perspectives themselves and see more of value in the various paintings here than they otherwise might.
The paintings included are:
The Water Carrier – Velazquez (~1618; Spanish; Realist)
The Music Party – Watteau (~1718; French; Rococo)
The Martyrdom of St Sebastian – Pollaiuolo (1475; Italian; Altarpiece)
View from Louveciennes – Camile Pisarro (~1870; French; Impressionist)
Virgin and Child with Angels – Duccio (~1300;Italian; Medieval devotional icon)
The Origin of the Milky Way – Tintoretto (1560; Baroque)
The Ambassadors – Holbein (~1534; German; Realist/ Still life)
The Adoration of the Name of Jesus – El Greco (1580; Spanish)
The Triumph of Caesar – Mantegna (~1490; Italian; Renaissance)
The Entertainment – Hogarth (~1755; English; Satirical)
Ascanius Shooting the Stag of Sylvia (~1682; French; Classical)
The Ressurection: Cookham – Stanley Spencer (1924; English) ( )