Artists: Their Lives and Works

A gorgeous exploration of the defining people of the art world including pioneers such as Giotto and Jan van Eyck, the greats like Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, and the visionaries like Frida Kahlo and Hokusai. Over 500 years of the craft is discussed, with the chapters organised by century starting with "Before 1500" and ending with "1945 - Present". Each chapter features the relevant painters of those years with its own directory. Read about the historical context of art movements in sections which include timelines and fact panels giving incredible insight into the art world, the past lives of artists and their visions and techniques. Discover the unconventional stories of the artists' lives, including their influences, developments, friendships, loves, and rivalries. Read about the portraits that Holbein did for Henry VIII to play matchmaker, Caravaggio's astonishing reaction to a badly cooked artichoke, and the many romantic affairs of Picasso. Sometimes scandalous and often tumultuous, the lives of artists such as Raphael, Hogarth, van Gogh, O'Keeffe, Magritte, Warhol, and Kiefer are as interesting and captivating as their work.