When Vincent van Gogh – poor, destitute Vincent, who relied on an allowance from his brother to survive – prophesied about “the painter of the future” in a letter to his benevolent sibling, he couldn’t have foreseen that he himself would fulfil that role. Months after his letter, Vincent sliced off his ear and found himself spiralling into a catastrophic mental breakdown, his artwork reviled by critics and shunned by decent society. Eighteen months later, on the cusp of success, Vincent died. In modern-day society, his art is some of the most recogniseable in the world, with its unique daubs of colour revealing the remarkable beauty of the everyday. But before Vincent, there had been many other artists whose works shocked – and later were celebrated by – the art world. In this brand-new bookazine, trace the incredible history of art, from the rivalry between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to the sordid life of blood-thirsty Caravaggio. Explore the legacy of the Renaissance on contemporary art, and find out how Dadaism rejected the status quo and shone a light on the absurdity of war.
Welcome
Tracing the history of Art • From ancient cave paintings to Minimalism, human’s desire to create has led to a rich tradition of constantly changing styles
The Venus of Willendorf
The Privilege OF PAINTING • The history of art seems dominated by white middle-class men. How and why is that the case?
Outsider Art
The problem of Exoticism
The Belvedere Torso
ILLUMINATING THE MIDDLE AGES • Before great artworks adorned the walls of great houses, they embellished the pages of great books
REVIVING THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK
RENAISSANCE RIVALS LEONARDO DA VINCI VS MICHELANGELO • The competition between two of the world’s greatest artists fuelled some of the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance
The Burial of the Count of Orgaz
Caravaggio’s LIFE OF CRIME • The scandalous story of the killer artist that painted Rome red
Rivals in paint • Caravaggio and nemesis artist Giovanni Baglione were embroiled in a high-stakes war that took place on canvas
Who killed Caravaggio? • With no corpse, the artist’s demise is cloaked in mystery yet reeks of murder
CARAVAGGIO’S MASTERPIECES • His personal life was a hot mess, but there is no doubt that Michelangelo Merisi was one of the most celebrated artists of his time
ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI: RENAISSANCE FEMINIST? • The acclaimed Baroque artist defied expectations and forged her own career in a male-dominated world
AT HOME WITH THE DUTCH MASTERS • How economic prosperity paved the way for the Dutch Golden Age
Call me Rembrandt
What’s in a face?
The Swing
ARTIST OF SATIRE • How one of Britain’s most famous artists used humour to shine a light on society’s moral decay
THE PAINTER AND HIS PUG
The GRAND TOUR • In the 17th and 18th centuries, hordes of young aristocrats journeyed across the continent, seeking to expand their knowledge of art and antiquity
Women on the Grand Tour • Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t just the boys who went away to have some fun on the continent…
Take a trip… • Fancy expanding your knowledge of classical antiquity or brushing up on your courtly manners? Follow the Grand Tour route…
Gainsborough AND THE ADVENT OF LANDSCAPES • In the late 18th century, one British artist introduced a new genre into fine art almost single-handedly, creating a path for new ways of seeing
Rivalry and rapprochement • Gainsborough eventually made peace with his nemesis
En plein air • How Gainsborough transformed painting
Self Portrait Hesitating Between Music and Painting
The Fighting Temeraire
The tragic story of Lizzie Siddal...