italian books - art & architecture
(return to books)
Whether you need a book to grace your coffee table, or you want to better inform yourself
about Italian architecture or art, these are the books we recommend.
D�j� View: Bologna, Italy; The Cultural Rephotographic Survey, by Willie Osterman
Every time I look through this book of paired historical and new photographs, I see something I hadn't noticed before. It's fascinating that some of the city's scenes have changed so dramatically over time, while others have remained virtually the same. Professor Osterman's painstaking research and patience in matching his settings to historical photographs have resulted in a remarkable and memorable book. I especially enjoyed his photographs of the people of Bologna. Each paired with an earlier photo taken decades before, there's something about their facial expressions and personal style that is ageless, that never changes. I felt a little like Rip Van Winkle exploring past and present simultaneously. I wish Mr. Osterman would do my city next! (amazon.com)
Bringing Italy Home : Creating the Feeling of Italy in Your Home Room by Room, by Cheryl MacLachlan, Bo Niles, Ivan Terestchenko (Photographer)
The focus of this book is "creating the feeling of Italy in your home room by room". The author takes us on a tour of each of the major rooms of a typical home: the living room, the bedroom, the dining room, and the kitchen. In each section she goes into great detail about what the Italian style of decor is and how you can replicate that for your own home. The book is full of many colorful photos, which go a great way in helping to visualize what your home might look like. The book also helps to capture through side stories very aspects of Italian life ("warm and stylish homes, irresistible food, simple elegance of Italian entertaining") that make the thought of turning your interior into this type of theme all that more appealing. She talks about regional (Tuscany, Venice, etc) design influences and also a full chapter on food and wine. She also provides a list of resources from which you can find some of the materials that can turn your home into that dream Tuscan villa or Venetian apartment. If you are looking to remodel your dwelling and thinking that you want to be surrounded by the grace of Italian living then you should definitely check out this book. ( by [email protected])
Romanesque: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Rolf Toman and Achim Bednorz,
As the holidays approach and you find yourself entertaining more at home, it's time to start thinking about a new book to add to your coffee table, or to toss under the tree of a fellow Italiaphile. "Romanesque" is not only a substantial book with beautiful pictures it's also a complete resource for understanding the building style most representative of the Middle Ages. As Romanesque architecture, art and sculpture is not restricted to Italy, this book also extends to show examples of this style from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Great Britan, and even Scandinavia!
more books...
M : The Man Who Became Caravaggio
The Altarpiece in Renaissance Venice, Peter Humfrey
Andrea Palladio: The Architect in His Time
Architecture of the Italian Renaissance, Jacob Burckhardt, James C. Palmes
Assisi: The Frescoes in the Basilica of St. Francis
A History of Venitian Architecture, Ennio Concina
Botticelli: Images of Love and Spring
Cats of Venice, Shin Otani
Concepts of Beauty in Renaissance Art, Francis Ames-Lewis
Italian Pavements: Patterns in Space, Kim Williams
Italy Fever: 14 Ways to Satisfy Your Love Affair with Italy
Michelangelo:Genius of the Renaissance, Jaune Pettit
Michelangelo's Surprise, Tony Parillo
Romanesque: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting,Rolf Toman and Achim Bednorz
Venitian Glass: Confections in Glass 1855-1914, Sheldon Barr
young Italian Architects: Giovani Architetti Italiani, Mario Campi and Pippo Ciorra
