Other books that might interest you

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  The Fauves

  Nathalia Brodskaya

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  Born at the dawn of the 20th century, Fauvism burst onto the artistic scene at the 1905 Salon d'Automne with great controversy by throwing bright, vibrant colours in the face of artistic convention. Fuelled by change, artists like Matisse, Derain, and Vlaminck searched for a new chromatic language by using colour out of its habitual context. Freed from the strict technique advocated by the École des Beaux-Arts, they used blocky colours as their main resource, saturating their stunning paintings. The author invites us to experience this vivid artistic evolution that, although encompassing a short amount of time, left its mark on the path to modernity.

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  If Venice Dies

  Salvatore Settis

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  “This powerful book of cultural criticism” by the renowned art historian “shines a harsh light on” a historic city’s destruction in the name of profit (The Washington Post).   What is Venice worth? To whom do its irreplaceable treasures belong? This eloquent book by art historian Salvatore Settis urgently poses these questions, igniting a new debate about urban stewardship and cultural patrimony at large. As Venice grows increasingly unaffordable and inhospitable to its own residents, Venetians are abandoning their hometown at an alarming rate. At last count, there was only one local for every 140 visitors.   As it capitulates to tourists and those who profit from them, Venice’s transformation into a lifeless shell of itself has become emblematic of the future of historic cities everywhere. In this blend of history and cultural analysis, written with wide-ranging erudition and élan, Settis makes a passionate plea to secure the soul of Venice.  “Anyone interested in learning what is really going on in Venice should read this book.” —Donna Leon, author of My Venice and Other Essays and Death at La Fenice

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  Twentieth Century–Fox - The...

  Peter Lev

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  When the Fox Film Corporation merged with Twentieth Century Pictures in 1935, the company posed little threat to industry juggernauts such as Paramount and MGM. In the years that followed however, guided by executives Darryl F. Zanuck and Spyros Skouras, it soon emerged as one of the most important studios. Though working from separate offices in New York and Los Angeles and often of two different minds, the two men navigated Twentieth Century-Fox through the trials of the World War II boom, the birth of television, the Hollywood Blacklist, and more to an era of exceptional success, which included what was then the highest grossing movie of all time, The Sound of Music. Twentieth Century-Fox is a comprehensive examination of the studio’s transformation during the Zanuck-Skouras era. Instead of limiting his scope to the Hollywood production studio, Lev also delves into the corporate strategies, distribution models, government relations, and technological innovations that were the responsibilities of the New York headquarters. Moving chronologically, he examines the corporate history before analyzing individual films produced by Twentieth Century-Fox during that period. Drawn largely from original archival research, Twentieth Century-Fox offers not only enlightening analyses and new insights into the films and the history of the company, but also affords the reader a unique perspective from which to view the evolution of the entire film industry.

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  British Violin Makers

  M. Meredith Morris

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  This adaptable instrument's origins date back centuries. Celtic legends amuse us with mystical stories describing the creation of stringed music, but practical history recounts that the modern birth of the violin occurred in Italy as early as the sixteenth century. The skilled craft of hand production was renowned in France as well, but it is the British classic type and its history that W. Meredith Morris writes about in British Violin Makers .This classic, comprehensive reference to violin making, reprinted in 1920, features a biographical dictionary of craftsmen, along with many of their signatures and marks. Twenty-six photographs of selected makers and their instruments help place the contemporary reader in the style of the period. Reverend Morris's second editionimproves upon the first 1904 edition by adding more than 150 names to the list of makers who produced six violins or more. A new foreword by music scholar Benjamin Hebbert explains the important role British violin makers played in the development of the instrument.From Morris's narrative, one gets a feel for the importance of the craftsman and his materials. He explains the various types of wood and varnish used, and how they, along with the arch and contour, work together to produce a specific tone. Speaking with fervor, the way a wine connoisseur does when describing a certain vintage, Morris compares and contrasts the quality of British instruments to that of other nations.

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  Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

  Jennifer Tobin

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  Esteemed professor Jennifer Tobin leads a compelling series of lectures on the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Examining the historical and social context of each wonder, Tobin answers such questions as, Why was it build? and What can it tell us about the people who built it? From the Great Pyramid at Giza to the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos of Alexandria, the course provides a 360-degree view of these enduring marvels of human achievement.

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  Hatched and Patched's Some Kind...

  Annie Downs

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  The popular designer behind Hatched and Patched shares 16 projects featuring her favorite fabrics and techniques—all with her signature charming aesthetic. 
   
  Welcome to the whimsical world of designer Anni Downs. Whether you love applique, patchwork, punch needle, or hand stitchery, you'll find the perfect project in this diverse array of quilts, sewing accessories, bags, and home accents. Each of the 16 light-hearted designs reflects Anni's favorite things—relaxing at home, shopping, traveling, and of course, sewing. Her passion for hand stitching plays a fanciful role in most all the projects with her signature quirky embroidery designs. 
   
  Featured projects include three quilts, a pillow, a table runner, and other decorative accessories to warm your everyday surroundings. Whether you're running to the local mall or traveling abroad, Anni's handy bag, coin purse, and travel document holder will keep everything in its place. And every quilter can use Anni's delightful pincushion, needle book, and sewing case!

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