Celebrate the life and work of Peter Paul Rubens with this informative introduction to the Flemish artist

Arguably the greatest artist of the Baroque period, Peter Paul Rubens was an accomplished painter and draughtsman, as well as a valued diplomat. This accessible examination of his life and work looks at every aspect of Rubens's oeuvre; from his commissioned portraits of royalty and the nobility to his magnificent representations of ancient myths, Biblical stories, and historical events. This incisive biography traces his life as a student in Venice, where he encountered the works of Titian and Tintoretto, the establishment of his studio in Antwerp, and the lucrative patronages of Marie de Medici and Phillip IV. Full-page reproductions of Rubens's work communicate his energetic and dynamic style, along with his masterful use of color and sensuous depictions of the human body.

About the Author:

Michael Robinson is a freelance lecturer and writer on art and design history having gained a Master's degree at Kingston University, where he spent many years as a lecturer. He is also a Blue Badge tourist guide and can often be found in Museums and galleries sharing his passions for art.

A collection of witty and sometimes wry quotes, inspiring edicts, and philosophies about fashion and style by celebrated fashion designers—from Coco Chanel to Tom Ford—as told to acclaimed fashion journalist Marylou Luther.

In her seventy-year career as a fashion journalist, newspaper columnist, and author, Marylou Luther has interviewed the most iconic figures in the fashion world who open up and spill the proverbial fashion “dirt” to Luther.

In her early days as a journalist, Luther met with the true legends of fashion—she interviewed Christian Dior in 1957 for the Chicago Tribune and visited Coco Chanel at her Rue Cambon atelier; Chanel proclaimed to Luther that “Only those with no memory insist on their originality. Yves Saint Laurent has excellent taste. The more he copies me, the better taste he displays.” Flash forward to present day, and designer Demna Gvasalia told Luther, “Fashion needs to shut up and look at itself—it needs a minute of silence to adjust after the pandemic.”

Featuring Karl Lagerfeld, Virgil Abloh, Marc Jacobs, Azzedine Alaïa, Rei Kawakubo, Miuccia Prada, Thom Browne, and more, the book celebrates the designers with drawings by fashion’s favorite illustrator, Ruben Toledo. His charming and vibrant renderings of these creative individuals, combined with inspiring and humorous text, makes this captivating book a must-have for fashion lovers everywhere.

About the Author:

Marylou Luther is the editor and founder of the International Fashion Syndicate and award-winning “Clotheslines” column and is the fashion editor emeritus of newspapers including the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. Cuban-born artist Ruben Toledo has had his work published in The New Yorker, Vogue, Town & Country, and The New York Times.

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Пролистать книгу Be-Spoke: What the Most Important Fashion Designers in the World Told Only to Marylou Luther

This volume recounts the centuries-long history of Villa Balbiano, a magnificent architectural masterpiece meticulously restored by Jacques Garcia.

From its prominent position on Lake Como, Villa Balbiano radiates a majestic charm emblematic of the most splendid chapter in the history of great villas in the idyllic Italian region. Each successive owner brought new splendor to the villa through additions, new frescoes and statues, and increasingly extensive and sumptuous gardens. The villa’s history reached an acme at the end of the eighteenth century, when the enlightened Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini, as master of the house, transformed Villa Balbiano into a crucible of philosophy and art, framed within the villa’s archetypical Roman lines.

Today, esteemed interior architect Jacques Garcia has undertaken painstaking restoration work that combines a stunning array of precious materials and a world-class collection of paintings and antique furnishings set against the backdrop of the original design that had been obscured over the centuries. The glorious new restoration inaugurates a new season in the life of the villa in one of the world’s most glamorous locations.

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Nestled in the shadow of the Alps in Italy’s Lakes District, Villa Balbiano has always represented an absolute ideal of fine living.

This romantic sixteenth-century architectural masterpiece is located on Lake Como, one of the world’s most glamorous locations and a place of culture and delight for more than two thousand years. After an exceptional restoration project led by the internationally renowned decorator Jacques Garcia, Villa Balbiano and its gardens are more vibrant than ever.

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Пролистать книгу Villa Balbiano: Italian Opulence on Lake Como

This updated edition of The Fly Fisher shows the most beautiful fishing spots, self-tied flies, and the right equipment for this increasingly popular lark of leisure.

Combining a connection with nature with a tranquil physical pastime, fly fishing is the perfect balance for those searching for a bit of peace and quiet and an outdoor activity. This new edition of The Fly Fisher is a celebration of both the community and artistry of a sport with an ever-growing global appeal. By showing a new generation of aficionados alongside an established, avid band of global fishers, we take a refreshing overview on the essence of the sport, while showing how to care for nature and connect with the environment.

Whether in the hands of those who claim wading and waiting in the water as a practiced pastime or those curious minds that have yet to cast a line, The Fly Fisher exhibits a world of stunning locales, gear essentials, and knot patterns. Profiles of fly fishing legends and members of a fresh new generation of enthusiasts provide the first comprehensive discussion of the sport and an unparalleled overview of its artistry.

Expect exclusive illustrations of fish species and self-tied flies, as well as tips to finding the perfect stance and the proper grip. Presented alongside vibrant imagery of various locations from the balmy salt waters of Florida to the rugged remoteness of Kamchatka, Russia, The Fly Fisher reveals how this rapidly growing outdoor activity creates both a sense of sport and sense of spirit.

About the Authors:

For over 15 years, fly fishing has been the elixir of life for Thorsten Strüben. He is an instructor with the European Fly Fishing Association where he teaches budding fly fishers the discipline. Strüben also acts as an ambassador for Loop, the largest tackle manufacturer in the industry. In The Fly Fisher, he combines his knowledge of the scene with his technical expertise.

A freelance creative director from Hamburg and an active fly fisher for several years, Jan Blumentritt and his friends partake in fly-fishing adventures as much as possible. Blumentritt also joins anglers and fly tyers on fishing expeditions as a photojournalist.

Baroque and Roll. Meet Sir Peter Paul Rubens, master painter and polymath

A painter of dramatic battles as much as erotic mythologies, Sir Peter Paul Rubens was a key figure in the 16th-century art world and a flag bearer for Baroque color, motion, and sensuality. His prolific oeuvre includes altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, historical paintings, as well as his famous, bountiful nudes.

There are over 1,000 catalogued works by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), the 16th-century flag bearer for Baroque drama, movement, and sensuality. This essential introduction takes in the most important works from this astonishingly prolific oeuvre to explore Rubens’s influences and innovations, and his remarkable visual, and art historical, impact.

The richly illustrated survey takes in Rubens’s portraits, landscapes, and historical paintings, as well as his famed and bountiful nudes. Along the way, we examine the artist’s astonishing technique and his deft ability to depict narrative in a compelling and legible visual form, whether an erotic mythological scene or a tender biblical story. This remarkable artistic bravura is placed in context both within Rubens’s long art historical legacy through Van Dyck, Velázquez, and beyond, and his other talents as a classical scholar, diplomat, and knight.

The author:

Gilles Néret (1933–2005) was an art historian, journalist, writer, and museum correspondent. He organized several art retrospectives in Japan and founded the SEIBU Museum and the Wildenstein Gallery in Tokyo. He directed art reviews such as L'Œil and Connaissance des Arts and received the Élie Faure Prize in 1981 for his publications. His TASCHEN titles include Salvador Dalí: The Paintings, Matisse, and Erotica Universalis.

About the series:

Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. 

Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features:
- a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance
- a concise biography
- approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions

This lavish volume is the first to celebrate the designs of the duo Mark Badgley and James Mischka, the authorities on the evening dress. After meeting at Parsons School of Design in New York and embarking on separate apprenticeships at major fashion houses, Mark Badgley and James Mischka joined forces to form Badgley Mischka in 1988. By the time Winona Ryder walked the red carpet at the 1996 Academy Awards in their gown encrusted in crystal and pearl beads, the design duo had become synonymous with elegant and luxurious evening dresses. Informed by a streamlined 1940s Hollywood silhouette while employing exquisite beads crafted in India, Badgley Mischka have become the arbiters of old Hollywood glamour. Their commitment to classic American beauty continues to reign on the red carpet today. As Mark and James say, “glamour always works.”  

Badgley Mischka follow in the great haute-couture tradition of legendary fashion houses such as Christian Dior and Adrian, who continue to inspire them season after season. These pages showcase the long-celebrated silhouettes — skinny beaded dresses, fishtail and ball gowns, and cocktail dresses — inspired by the masters of a bygone era. Embellished modern evening gowns imbued with the allure of Hollywood’s golden age have been Badgley Mischka’s signature voice for more than twenty-five years, and this book is a celebration of the evening dress in all its shimmering glory.

About the Author:

Mark Badgley and James Mischka have made their mark over the past two decades with glamorous eveningwear, sportswear, accessories, and bridal collections. Badgley Mischka styles can be found at prestigious stores around the world. André Leon Talley is a contributing editor at Vogue. Hal Rubenstein is a writer, a designer, and one of the founding editors of InStyle magazine. He is a frequent red-carpet commentator for The Today Show, Extra, and Access Hollywood. Dennita Sewell is curator of fashion design at the Phoenix Art Museum.

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Пролистать книгу Badgley Mischka: American Glamour

Luminous new photography showcases contemporary and historic homes in the beloved Spanish Style in Southern California, while offering, as well, a rare look at the original inspirations to the style, born in Andalusia, Spain.

The great appeal of Spanish Style homes lies in their aura of romance and drama, a sense of story, of magic, as well as in their very comfortable and engaging proportions and the great livability of the interior spaces. Deep shadow, arched doorways, trickling courtyard fountains, climbing bougainvillea on wrought-iron window grilles, wood-beamed ceilings, and white plaster walls are all hallmarks of the style. Here, through a celebration of contemporary and historic homes in Southern California, as well as existing historic precedents in Andalusia, Spain -- most notably the intricately detailed Casa de Pilatos in Seville and the Alhambra of Granada--The Spanish Style House presents the definitive picture of the style as it exists today.

Featured homes include the George Washington Smith-designed Casa Blanca (1928) -- a fantasy made real in stone and stucco replete with the romance of old Morocco in its horseshoe arches, domes, and evocative tile murals--and a Marc Appleton-designed beach house (2007) in Del Mar, California, which is a dream on the sea and an eloquent testament to the virtues of the style for today.

About the Author:

Dr. Rubén G. Mendoza is an archaeologist, photographer, and founding faculty member of the California State University, Monterey Bay. He is coeditor and author of several books, including The California Missions. Melba Levick is a Los Angeles-based photographer with more than sixty books to her name, including The California Missions, The California Casa, and Classic Homes of Los Angeles.

Presented here are houses to dream of and dream in — a luminous celebration of the finest examples of the Santa Fe Style from the eighteenth century to today, in this high-desert mecca of artists, craftspeople, artisans, and designers.

Desert hues, natural materials, thick hand-plastered walls, and adobe brick construction are hallmarks of the Santa Fe Style, which is as much an expression in architecture, interior design, art, and crafts as it is a way of life. Rooted in a sense of earthy comfort inspired by its history, the surrounding desert, and Native American and Hispanic design influences, the style has a timeless appeal and vibrant ongoing life that has resulted in these extraordinary homes.

With features such as eighteenth-century peeled vigas, tin chandeliers, romantic iron sconces, and hand-hewn wood-beamed ceilings, each house is a rich yet harmonious invitation that will engage the senses and speak to the soul. Beyond the houses, the writer and photographer spotlight those details and spaces that together convey the magic of this very special place, including patios and gardens; fireplaces, kivas, and hornos; ceramics; Native American arts; cabinets and trasteros; folk art; and weaving.

Casa Santa Fe is the definitive sourcebook for architects, designers, builders, homeowners, and interior decorators seeking to expand their visual repertoire of historically defined and classically inspired architectural details and interior appointments.

About the Author:

Melba Levick is a Los Angeles–based photographer with more than sixty books to her name, including The Spanish Style House: From Enchanted Andalusia to the California Dream. Dr. Rubén G. Mendoza is an archaeologist; photographer; founding faculty member of the California State University, Monterey Bay; and coeditor and author of several books, including The Spanish Style House.

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Пролистать книгу Casa Santa Fe: Design, Style, Arts, and Tradition

Fly fishing combines connecting with nature, the defining of personal aesthetics, and physical activity. The Fly Fisher shows the most beautiful fishing spots, self-tied flies, and the right equipment for this increasingly popular lark of leisure.

The perfect balance for those searching for a bit of peace and quiet and an outdoor activity: fly fishing combines connecting with nature, the defining of personal aesthetics, and physical activity. The Fly Fisher shows the most beautiful fishing spots, self-tied flies, and the right equipment for this increasingly popular lark of leisure.

Equal parts outdoor meditation and escapism – an alluring balance between nature and sport - fly fishing appeals to a diverse audience. The dedicated focus on the task at hand makes daily life fade away and the fly fisher is free to connect with the soothing sounds of the water while awaiting a catch.

Whether in the hands of those who claim wading and waiting in the water as a practice pastime or those curious minds that have yet to cast a line, The Fly Fisher exhibits a world of stunning locales, gear essentials, and knot patterns. Profiles of fly fishing legends and members of a fresh new generation of enthusiasts provide the first comprehensive discussion of the sport and an unparalleled overview of its artistry. Exclusive illustrations of fish species and self-tied flies and tips to finding the perfect stance and the proper grip are presented alongside vibrant imagery of various locations from the balmy salt waters of Florida to the rugged remoteness of Kamchatka, Russia. The Fly Fisher reveals how this rapidly growing outdoor activity creates both a sense of sport and sense of spirit.

For over 15 years, fly fishing has been the elixir of life for Thorsten Strüben. He is an instructor with the European Fly Fishing Association where he teaches budding fly fishers the discipline. Strüben also acts as an ambassador for Loop, the largest tackle manufacturer in the industry. In The Fly Fisher, he combines his knowledge of the scene with his technical expertise.

A freelance creative director from Hamburg and an active fly fisher for several years, Jan Blumentritt and his friends partake in fly-fishing adventures as much as possible. Blumentritt also joins anglers and fly tyers on fishing expeditions as a photojournalist.

A must for all fashion enthusiasts, movie buffs, and celebrity watchers, 100 Unforgettable Dresses showcases the behind-the-scenes stories of the most memorable, influential dresses from the worlds of fashion, film, television, society, and politics. In this lavishly illustrated style compendium, InStyle magazine fashion director Hal Rubenstein reveals the fascinating origins and legacies of the most stunning dresses ever created.

Perfect for backstage story snoops, gossip lovers, die-hard shoppers, and pop culture mavens who can't get enough of these indelible, once-in-a-lifetime creations, 100 Unforgettable Dresses will change the way you think about couture forever.

Книга о крупнейшем фламандском художнике эпохи барокко Питере Пауле Рубенсе (1577–1640). Он был выходцем из буржуазной семьи, получил прекрасное образование и воспитание. Обладал хорошим здоровьем, обилием энергии, интеллектом и большим талантом, к тому же был очень удачлив в жизни. Рубенс стремительно создавал одну за другой картины на светские, религиозные и мифологические темы. Его картины были гигантских размеров. Ему лучше других удалось сделать ощутимой, пожалуй, даже осязаемой, красоту кожи и упругость дышащей плоти. Художник с упоением писал обнаженные пышные женские тела. Он много работал для всех европейских дворов и всех без исключения церквей. Рубенс считается самым значительным представителем живописи новой схоластики и контрреформации. В то же время, он один из главных мастеров европейского барокко и живописи всей эпохи в целом. Рубенс был счастлив в семейной жизни. Его вторую жену Елену Фурмен считали одной из красивейших женщин своего времени. Книга состоит из трех глав, рассказывающих о жизни художника и об истории создания каждой картины, представленной в издании. В конце книги приводится хронология жизни и творчества мастера.