Techniques of the Great Masters of Art (A QED book) (Hardcover)

by Waldemar Januszczak (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An in-depth analysis of the works of 110 of the world's most important artists, from the early Renaissance to the present, features more than four hundred illustrations and a text that explains how each developed his or her own style and techniques.

Book Description
Painting technique is a relatively neglected aspect of art history, although technique is vitally important in the development of painting styles and movements. In this volume, the techniques of 77 of the world's greatest painters are examined in over 100 of their finest paintings. This comprehensive study shows the development of technique from the frescoes of Giotto to the acrylic paintings of David Hockney, revealing the extent to which changes of technique and the evolution of artist's material went hand in hand.

Some of the unique features of the book are:
-- A concise description of the career and general technique of the artist
-- Actual size details indicating the scale of the work
-- Diagrams showing the unpainted blank surface and subsequent sizing stages
-- Illustrations demonstrating the underdrawing of the work
-- Reproductions of the whole painting and a series of details
-- Extensive captions to explain the relevance of each detail

This book, compiled withthe aid of a team of 14 technical consultants, experienced as either picture conservators or art historians, is an invaluable tool for the appreciation and understanding of the great paintings of the past and the present. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 540 pages
• Publisher: Chartwell Books, Inc. (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890098794
• ISBN-13: 978-0890098790
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #271,174 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #82 in

  Books > Arts & Photography > Instructional & How-To > Painting

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST-HAVE book, December 4, 1999

By	billvaspainter (Shelby County, KY ; originally from Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Here is a book for the serious art student as well as the accomplished artist. Had this book been available when I was in art school, I know my development would have been much easier and faster. I gain much from it every time I study this book , which is quite often.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars captivating glimpses, April 14, 1998

By A Customer

If you have ever walked right up next to a painting to look for the strokes -- whether Van Gogh's short three-dimensional lavings or the almost invisible thin applications of Dutch masters -- this is a book that will please you. One thing that's particularly fascinating about its focus is that it leads you into the mute physical processes of creation -- the things an artist's hand and wrist may know that can never be said in a letter or credo, no matter how articulate the painter. And the author has taken care to show exactly what he's talking about at each stage, with clear (and often considerably enlarged) illustrations from the canvases under discussion. It's a treat.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it, May 25, 2004

By	'floaty pen' "debbie" - See all my reviews

This is one of the most exciting books on the history of art in combination with the technique of great masters that you can come across. Richly illustrated and covering a wide range of artists, this book does not merely give a biography of the artist and an example of his works. Its attraction lies in the fact that one painting of each artist is analysed in detail including sequence of painting, materials and techniques used from the start to finish with some good close-ups and analysis. This is a rare book which brings actual clarity to the reader who may be eager to learn as to how certain effects were achieved by many masters, while at no time erasing the mystique associated with the masterpieces. It has the potential to greatly accelerate the learning curve of an intermediate painter while remaining of value even to the pro. Rich, stimulating, good value for money and a treat in all respects, this book will be near the top of the chart of your favorites in its category, if not numero uno.