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David Hockney

Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters Hardcover – October 29, 2001

by David Hockney (Author)

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The author presents detailed theories on how some of Western art's famous masterpieces by such artists as da Vinci, Caravaggio, Velßzquez, and Van Eyck were actually created while discussing how his speculations have sparked worldwide anger and astonishment.

Print length

296 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Viking Studio
Publication date

October 29, 2001
Dimensions

9.8 x 1.25 x 12.2 inches
ISBN-10

0670030260
ISBN-13

978-0670030262
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

British painter David Hockney, well known for his cool and lovely paintings of California pools, has taken on the new role of detective. For two years Hockney seriously investigated the painting techniques of the old masters, and like any admirable sleuth, compiled substantial evidence to support his revolutionary theory. Secret Knowledge is the fruit of this labor, an exhaustive treatise in pictures revealing clues that some of the world's most famous painters, Ingres, Velázquez, Caravaggio (just to mention a few) utilized optics and lenses in creating their masterpieces. Hockney's fascination with the subject is contagious, and the book feels almost like a game with each analysis a "How'd they do that?" instead of a whodunit. While some may find the technical revelation a disappointment in terms of the idea of genius, Hockney is quick to point out that the use of optics does not diminish the immensity of artistic achievement. He reminds the reader that a tool is just a tool, and it is still the artist's hand and creative vision that produce a work of art. (296 pages, 460 illustrations, 402 in color.) --J.P. Cohen

About the Author

David Hockney was born in England in 1937 and studied at the Royal College of Art. He achieved international acclaim by his mid-twenties as part of the pop art movement and has gone on to become one of the best known artists of his generation.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Studio; 1st edition (October 29, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0670030260
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0670030262
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.86 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.8 x 1.25 x 12.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #763,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #185 in Oil Painting
- #3,402 in Arts & Photography Criticism
- #5,244 in Art History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
188 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		84%
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3 star		4%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Imagardener

a book that every artist should read

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2010

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Love it,love it, love it!

I will be re-reading this book for many years. Mr. Hockney has done Art a huge service through his investigation and experimentation to help us understand more about the craft as well as the art of painting and drawing. I hope he gets knighted for it if he isn't already.
It is truly a scholarly work with the excitement of a mystery.

One of the best parts is that he is unafraid to make bold statements that a lesser person would be hooted down for by the "establishment". Bravo to him. Bravery comes in many forms and this is a brave book.

If you love art and seek a deeper understanding of how it has evolved you must read this book.

LOTS of photographs, LOTS of illustrations and step by step explanations of his theories. More books should be written this way, especially art books. Many artists seem to be unable to explain themselves, perhaps their minds don't work in that way. Thank goodness Hockney was blessed with both fully functioning right and left brains.

5 people found this helpful

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Tim

Love this book

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2017

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Omg! Love this book. I am a professional artist and there is a lot of knowledge in this book. Both historical and modern.

5 people found this helpful

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Vital Resource

A little mystery in the art world...

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2012

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This is a fascinating book and bravo to David Hockney for writing it, in spite of the controversy stirred up. He makes a good case for the use of optical devices to aid in some of the most celebrating paintings in history. I personally appreciate his explaining how some limbs in some works seemed to be out of proportion to other parts of the work or at an awkward angle, when the artist is clearly a good draftsman. This book solved that mystery for me. It also, comfortingly, gave me a bit of a laugh when I realized that, even in the 1600s, artists were experimenting and sometimes had some odd results. Thank you, Mr. Hockney!

13 people found this helpful

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Bill Mills

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2018

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amazing....no doubt the theories are correct....

2 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

I actually replaced a copy that I had loaned to ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2016

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I actually replaced a copy that I had loaned to someone years ago. I was at an art show recently when the curator had no idea why the paintings were lit the way they were, and I referred her to this thesis.

8 people found this helpful

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Ken Mora

Amazing Detective Work!

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2002

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It's not every contemporary artist who rewrites the history of modern painting, and pushes back the use of the Artist's lens to the Renaissance.
Hockney has changed the way we will consider the paintings of the old masters, and the historical basis for the newest art of our times.
The amazing thing is, that we've all looked at these same paintings, seen the same clues, perhaps even had the same alarm bells go off in our heads, but we allow inquiries to be stifled by accepeted art historical explanations. That is, until David Hockey applied the reason and passion for observation that only an artist can bring to the subject.
The book's arguments are beutifully illustrated, first visually, using the artworks themselves as historical documentation. Next with scholary reasearch whose meaning, in light of Hockney's visual arguments, brings the correspondence and criticism of the time into sharp focus. And finally, and most lively, you get to see the artist's theory evolve in the form of correspondence with scientists and scholars of today discussing cutting edge technological examinations of the old masterworks previously illustrated.
Quite simply, a MUST READ book!
- Ken Mora
kenmora.com

19 people found this helpful

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Will I Am

great book!

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2002

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Wow, this book is a real eye-opener! I have a BFA in Art History and have recently been studying the works of Van Eyck. Hockney's studies dovetail nicely with my own and he has given me some answers to a few of the questions I had about Van Eyck and his followers - why those different vanishing points? why the odd focal depths? why the straight-on views assembled in a montage? Optics! The part about Caravaggio's progression to lenses is particularly fascinating.
This is quite a lovely book. It has large full color reproductions of many beautiful paintings and is laid out with an artistic design sense. While I don't agree with all of Hockney's conclusions, I think his main concept is dead-on - some of the Masters did use optic lenses, convex mirrors and camera obscuras for their paintings. Hockney does a great detective job and has laid his research out in a visually stunning book.
P.S. for all those reviewers below who didn't read the book - why are you wasting your time writing a review? Maybe you should be consistant and write reviews for the other thousands of books you haven't read.

16 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Beautiful and enlightening

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2001

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This is meticulously and beautiful book, that supplements the photos of art with excellent detail closeups. David Hockney writes in an accessible and lively style. Non Artists will have no trouble following his argument, though we may not be able to fully judge it as well as art experts can.
But that's not the only accomplishment of this book. Following the path of Hockney's investigation, we learn an enormous amount about painting and how it is accomplished, not just in the past but how it ties to today's techniques. As a still and movie cameraman I found it very illuminating and even useful.

13 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Edward B. Crutchley

Marvellous

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2017

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This is a fascinating presentation of why so many paintings from the early 1400s onwards have a photographic or instantaneous appearance to them, whether it be of facial expressions or perfectly presented detail. David Hockney shows how, using optics, artists could have achieved something impossible by using simply ‘eyeballing’. His convincing explanations are wonderfully clear and perfectly placed in relation to corresponding illustrations. There are over 400 illustrations in colour. A book to treasure.

8 people found this helpful

oldsteve

Good, but promises more than delivers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2019

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I have given 5 stars because this is a readable & interesting book. I think, however, that whilst it establishes a plausible hypothesis it does not get much further. The book had a cold reception from the art establishment. The problem with any claim about "secret" knowledge is that it is inevitably close to a conspiracy theory and attracts bizarre claims and counter claims. Worth reading if you are interested in the history of art - and it might be correct!

One person found this helpful

Nancy Lee

Beautifully illustrated and simply explained

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2020

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I have always wanted to read this book and I was really interested to get it at last. Really well laid out and explained.
It is a terrible lack in art history education when none of this information is available. Most artists want to know how things are made and David Hockney has really got to grips with the subject for us and generously let us in on the secret.

Peter Rose

Anyone interested to know how the great painters cheated?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2019

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Huge book, very interesting to see how the masters used a technique that will surprise you. David Hockney does a fantastic job of uncovering and describes this fascinating method. He actually reveals and demonstrates their techniques.

One person found this helpful

Wilbert

A revolutionary book on renaissance painting. A must read ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2015

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A revolutionary book on renaissance painting. A must read for any seriuous art historian. Today the proof of renaissance painters using optical devices to achieve their astonishing quality has become overwhelming. You should also try to view the documentary "Tim's Vermeer" which is based on Hockneys principles. Once you get used to the idea, you can only have more respect for the genius and the sheer tenacity of world famous painters from that period.

3 people found this helpful