Bibliophile's Corner

The Art of Reading
An illustrated History of Books in Paint

by Jamie Camplin and 

Maria Ranauro

Flap Copy Description:

For art and book lovers alike, this beautifully illustrated volume explores the relationship between books, the artist, and Western painting from the fifteenth to twentieth centuries.

"Why do artists love books?" This volume takes that tantalizingly simple question as a starting point to reveal centuries of symbiosis between the visual and literary arts. First looking at the development of printed books and the simultaneous emergence of the modern figure of the artist, The Art of Reading appraises works by the many great masters who took inspiration from the printed word. Bringing together more than 150 paintings that include books as part of their subject matter, this lively and companionable survey examines how the book became the single most ubiquitous feature of our cultural lives and, in large measure, of everyday existence.

Authors Jamie Camplin and Maria Ranauro weave together an engaging cultural history that probes the ways in which books and paintings represent a key to understanding ourselves and the past. Paintings contain a world of information about religion, class, gender, and power, but they also reveal details of everyday life often lost in history texts - and all the more so when books are depicted. Such artworks show us not only how books have been used and valued over time, but also how the significance and practice of reading have evolved in Western society.

My Thoughts:

Let me first say that if you follow my blog at all, you know that I primarily review books for children; however, since The Art of Reading has become one of my all-time favorite books, I just had to feature it as my first review of fall. Every lover of books, art, or both, must have this new tome in their library. While it takes an in-depth view of its subject matter, this recently released volume is a delight to read. (On a side note, the beautiful presentation of this book makes it the perfect gift for your favorite bibliophile!)