Hans Zatzka - A Unique Fantasy World
A coffee-table book about Hans Zatzka.
The Austrian artist Hans Zatzka (1859-1945) is best known for his truly unique fantasy paintings, in which he created his own dream world. Zatzka's utopia consisted of soft natural environments in which he placed fairy-tale-like women, often surrounded by flowers, mythological creatures, and animals. These works range from playful scenes with some humorous elements, to women placed in an Oriental environment, to colorful interior scenes where a sensual woman is waiting for her lover. Some of these fantasy paintings are created in a keyhole format, creating the sensation that the viewer is peeking at the models through the keyhole. Zatzka was a very productive artist, and his oeuvre also includes works with a religious theme, mainly Madonna paintings, and still lifes filled with colorful flowers and fruits.
During his career, the art of Hans Zatzka strongly appealed to the lower and middle class citizens, and his paintings ended up with private collectors and local galleries. As a consequence, Zatzka's works have not been on display in major museums over time, severely limiting his exposure to a larger audience. Luckily, many of his works are now regularly sold in auctions, providing us with a glimpse into the mesmerizing world of Hans Zatzka. This richly-illustrated coffee table book provides a stunning overview of the artist and his works.
Thomas Mostyn - An Enchanted World
A coffee table book about Thomas Mostyn.
Thomas Mostyn (1864-1930) was a well-respected British painter active during the last decade of the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th century. People and nature formed the main inspiration for his work, and Mostyn kept experimenting with the style and subjects he captured on the canvas during his career. In the 1890s, he was primarily interested in capturing nature with a high degree of realism, but his works gradually incorporated more imaginary elements. Like many other artists, World War I strongly influenced his artistic vision. By the end of the war in 1918, Mostyn became successful with his unique enchanted garden scenes, which form the most significant part of his oeuvre.
The majority of Thomas Mostyn's art is part of private collections around the world, but more than 70 of his works are on display in museums, primarily in England. Many of his works are now regularly sold at public auctions, providing us with a great look into the artistic mind of Mostyn. This richly-illustrated coffee table book provides a stunning overview of the artist and his work.
Antonietta Brandeis - Memories from Venice and Beyond
A coffee-table book about Antonietta Brandeis.
Born in the present-day Czech Republic, Antonietta Brandeis (1848-1926) specialized in the theme of realistic city views. She was mainly active in Venice, painting the beautiful monuments and sights of The Floating City, but she also captured the iconic views of cities like Florence and Rome. Her works are characterized by great attention to detail, combined with a colorful palette to capture the beauty and light of the architectural views she painted. The main part of her oeuvre consists of city views ranging from bustling city squares to peaceful views of the Venetian backwaters and their architecture. She captured the unique atmosphere of Italian cities in combination with a crisp rendering of their architecture.
Antonietta Brandeis was one of the first two women allowed to study at the Venice Academy of Fine Arts. In an art world dominated by men, she became a successful artist selling her works to art collectors across Europe and the United States. Her art is still popular at art auctions today.
Federico del Campo - The Complete Works
A coffee-table book about Federico del Campo.
Federico del Campo (1837-1923) was a Peruvian artist who specialized in painting realistic and luminous views of Venice. This catalogue raisonné provides a complete overview of all known works of Del Campo, as well as a detailed description of his life and career.
The works of Del Campo are a magnificent tribute to the great architecture and rich history of Venice. He combined great technical accuracy in rendering the Venetian architecture with light brush strokes to capture Venice's daily life and unique atmospheric setting. Most of his oeuvre consists of the Venetian palaces, churches, and canals. But he also has painted some other scenes, including some views of the Island of Capri, which was just like Venice a very popular place among artists. Del Campo was part of a community of mostly foreign artists who created these views as valuable souvenirs for wealthy foreigners visiting Venice on their Grand Tour. His work stands out from that of his colleagues by his attention to detail and the glazing waters, making his scenes come alive.
Peder Mørk Mønsted - Photorealistic Landscapes from Denmark and Beyond
A coffee-table book about Peder Mørk Mønsted.
The Danish artist Peder Mørk Mønsted (1859-1941) belongs among the greatest landscape painters in history, and his works reflect a mix of modernity, realism, and romanticism. He captured stunning landscapes across Europe, ranging from lush-green forests to snowy Northern European winter scenes to North-African Orientalist images. His style can be characterized by a combination of a very detailed observation of nature, which was common during the Danish Golden Age of painting, with smooth brush strokes, and an Impressionist sensitivity to capturing natural light. And while many of his works appear photorealistic, which may suggest short and precise brushwork, his technique essentially creates the impression of detail.
Mønsted's technique gradually evolved during his career, but the one common element across his oeuvre is his focus on accurately capturing the light of each season and area he painted. His picturesque landscapes of his native Denmark constitute the majority of his oeuvre, but Mønsted traveled widely to paint landscapes from Norway to the Alps to North Africa. This richly-illustrated coffee table book provides a stunning overview of the artist and his works.
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