One of the most accomplished human beings who ever lived, Leonardo da Vinci remains the quintessential Renaissance genius. Creator of the world’s most famous paintings, this scientist, artist, philosopher, inventor, builder, and mechanic epitomized the great flowering of human consciousness that marks his era. "Leonardo da Vinci. The Graphic Work" features top-quality reproductions of 663 of Leonardo's drawings, more than half of which reside in the Royal Collection of Windsor Castle. From anatomical studies to architectural plans, from complex engineering designs to pudgy infant portraits, delve in and ... |
|
Vincent van Gogh's story is one of the most ironic in art history. Today, he is celebrated the world over as one of the most important painters of all time, recognized with sell-out shows, feted museums, and record prices of tens of millions of dollars at auction. Yet as he was painting the canvases that would subsequently become these sell-out modern masterpieces, van Gogh was battling not only the disinterest of his contemporary audiences but also devastating bouts of mental illness, with episodes of depression and paralyzing anxiety which would eventually claim his life in 1890, when he committed suicide shortly ... |
|
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 - 1669) never left his homeland of the Netherlands but in his massive body of painting, drawing, and etching, he changed the course of Western art. His prolific oeuvre encompasses religious, historical, and secular scenes, as well as one of the most extraordinary series of portraits and self-portraits in history. Rembrandt's work foregrounds texture, light, and acute observation. Like sudden, startling apparitions in a shadowy street, his subjects are illuminated against deep, dark backgrounds and rendered with immense physical as well as psychological scrutiny. Whether biblical or ... |
|
Though numbering just 35 known works, the œuvre of Johannes Vermeer (1632 - 1675) is hailed as one of the most important and inspiring portfolios in art history. His paintings have prompted a New York Times bestseller, a film starring Scarlett Johansson, and record visitor numbers at art institutions from Amsterdam to Washington. Vermeer's subjects focus on daily domestic activities, from letter writing to music playing to preparations in the kitchen. The scenes astound with their meticulous detail, majestic planes of light, and with Vermeer’s extraordinary ability to draw out narrative intrigues. In such ... |
|
The Case Study House program (1945-1966) was a unique event in the history of American architecture. Sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine, the program sought to respond to the postwar building boom with prototype modern homes that could be both easily replicated and readily affordable to the average American. Concentrated on the Los Angeles area, the Case Study Houses included 36 model homes commissioned from such major architects of the day as Richard Neutra, Raphael Soriano, Craig Ellwood, Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, Eero Saarinen, A. Quincy Jones, and Ralph Rapson. Their criteria included "using, ... |
|
To explore the Tarot is to explore ourselves, to be reminded of the universality of our longing for meaning, for purpose and for a connection to the divine. This 600-year-old tradition reflects not only a history of seekers, but our journey of artistic expression and the ways we communicate our collective human story. For many in the West, Tarot exists in the shadow place of our cultural consciousness, a metaphysical tradition assigned to the dusty glass cabinets of the arcane. Its history, long and obscure, has been passed down through secret writing, oral tradition, and the scholarly tomes of philosophers and sages. ... |
|
George Eastman's career developed in a particularly American way. The founder of Kodak progressed from a delivery boy to one of the most important industrialists in American history, and a crucial innovator in photographic history. Eastman died in 1932, and left his house to the University of Rochester. Since 1949 the site has operated as an international museum of photography and film, and today holds the largest collection of its kind in the world, containing over 400,000 images and negatives - among them the work of such masters as Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, and Ansel Adams. Home also to 23,000 cinema ... |
|
The Second World War began on 1 September 1939 with the German invasion in Poland and ended in August 1945 with surrender of Japan. That global military conflict involved all of the great powers and most of the world’s nations. There were two opposing alliances: the Allies (USSR, Great Britain, USA etc.) and the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan). Second World War in Europe was fought on three fronts: Eastern, Western and Italian. The most bloody and devastating fights were on the Eastern front. The war ended with the total defeat of the Axis powers. Shortly after the outbreak of the war Hitler's Germany managed ... |
|
"My Bulgaria" is geared to young Bulgarians abroad who want to trace their roots as well as to any English-speaking people who would like to broaden their knowledge of the history of Bulgaria. All 51 richly illustrated chapters provide a concise yet in-depth description of historical events from Prehistory to Modernity."History does not make us grand but rather rational. It fosters an understanding of the core human values; it helps us learn from the mistakes of our predecessors; it instills in us pride of their achievements and thus boosts our confidence. A confident person is bound to be successful and ... |
|
Bulgaria made its first steps as an independent state in the distant 681. It is one of the centuries. Its geographical position on the Balkans, the crossing of roads from and to Europe, Africa and Asia, determined the difficult historical destiny of the Bulgarian, state. The hardest ordeal for the Bulgarians was the annihilation of their state by the Ottoman Empire during the 14 th century. For nearly five centuries Bulgaria did not exist, but the Bulgarians manager to preserve their national identity. During the second half of the 19 th century the Bulgarian state once again appeared on the map of Europe and tried to ... |
|
A Guidebook for Children and Adults. ... Книгата включва: 9 теми, обхващащи периода от възникване на Цивилизацията до IX век; над 1500 уникални цветни фотографии и илюстрации; подбрана галерия от снимки на фотографа Асен Великов, разкриващи красивото лице на България в народна носия. "История на славните българи" - бранител на българската история и образование. Ролята на "История на славните българи" е да покаже, че имаме основание да бъдем горд народ с постиженията си и да помогнем на децата да повдигнат пердето на заблудите, да осветим умозрението, за да видят един свят на древни герои и ... |
|
An English-language edition of History of Bulgarian Diplomatic Relations. Published in 2005, the book traces back and documents the historical development of Bulgaria's diplomatic relations and the institutions engaged in its foreign policy. The English edition was published by the Bulgarian Bestseller publishing house. History of Bulgarian Diplomatic Relations is authored by Maria Mateeva , and Peter Konstantinov has edited and updated it. ... |