With 300 stunning colour illustrations including all of Courbets most important paintings and many fine examples of his draftsmanship this is the definitive study of what some critics call the first modern artist. When Courbet started his career in the late 1840s French painting was dominated by neoclassicism and romanticism. Courbet instead depicted scenes from everyday life, particularly almost the peasants and the working class, with a naturalism then considered shocking.

Courbet
ISBN: 9780789209771
75.00 HB
Abbeville Press
May 08
Order from GBS

This book will introduce woodblock masterpieces of beautiful women in paintings, from the Edo period to present. Ukiyoe (Japanese Woodblock prints) as a style flourished during this time, and the city of Edo become a center of culture as well as politics.

Women - Japanese Portrait Tradition
ISBN: 9784894446670
24.00 PB
PIE Books
June 08
Order from GBS

Featured in Stella magazine, May 18

Edith Whartons Italian Villas and Their Gardens is one of the classic works on garden design, and a testament to the depth of knowledge of one of Americas greatest writers. A comprehensive look at the history and character of Italian garden architecture and ornamentation, the book includes a brief history of more than 75 villas as well as a detailed discussion of their gardens, from Florence to Rome to the Veneto. This beautiful hardback facsimile is carefully reproduced from the first edition published in 1903 and includes all of the original plates, including 26 illustrations by Maxfield Parrish, as well as décollage edges.

Italian Villas and Their Gardens
9780847831159
19.95 HB
Rizzoli
June 08
Order from Marston

An illustrated history of the alphabet, with a detailed analysis of each letter. In chapter one the author traces the development of the Latin alphabet from the Greek and the Etruscan alphabet and gives an overview of the various writing and printing styles that emerged throughout the centuries. Chapter two is a formal analysis of the alphabet, looking at the anatomy of letters, phonetic aspects, and the chakras that the letters represent. In part three, each letter of the alphabet is discussed in detail regarding its origin and evolution, forms and interpretations, abbreviations and meanings, and sayings connected with the letter.

Letter by Letter
ISBN: 9781568987378
15.00 PB
Princeton Architectural Press
Available NOW
Order from Marston

Juxtapoz Art & Culture magazine was established by Califonia artist Robert Williams in 1994 to document an exploding art movement emanating largely from the West Coast. In this first volume Illustration, artists such as Mode 2, KozynDan, Mike Giant, James Jean, Evan Hecox, Grotesk, Alex Pardee and Morning Breath are briefly profiled then allowed the space to let their work do the talking. While all of the artists in this volume have experienced professional success and artistic accolades, they remain accessible to the commercial client and art collector alike, representing this phenomenal modern movement perfectly.

Juxtapoz Illustration
ISBN: 9781584232896
25.00 HB
Gingko Press
June 08
Order from PGUK Enfield

The second book in an ongoing series from the West Coast art and culture magazine, Juxtapoz Tattoo focusses on a subject very dear to the inked hearts of its readers. Most of the features artists came up at the beginning of Tattoos modern renaissance in the mid 1990's. Whether these gifted tattooists are creating a modern twist on a classic archetype, or pushing the boundaries of the future primatives aesthetic, innovation is the common goal. Features tattooists include: Troy Denning, Alex McWatt, Brian Randolph and Chris ODonnell of New York Adorned, Scott Campbell, Steve Boltz, Henry Lewis and more.

Juxtapoz Tattoo
9781584232889
25 HB
Gingko Press
June 08
Order from PGUK Enfield

E Pluribus Venom is comprised of artworks designed to question the symbols and methods of the American machine and American dream and also celebrate those who oppose blind nationalism and war. Some of Faireys works use currency motifs or a Norman Rockwell aesthetic to employ graphic lanaguage of the subjects that they critique. Other works use a blend of Art Nouveau, hippie and revolutionary propaganda styles to celebrate subjects advocating peace.

E Pluribus Venom
9781584232957
20 HB
Gingko Press
Order from PGUK Enfield
Due July 2008

A Tribute to Celebrities features the work of renowned and just-starting-out graphic designers all of whom were asked to submit work on their favourite icon, famous person, well known or obscure figure or idol. The results are a fantastic collection of visual commentary on what it means to be a celebrity in the modern world, and how public figures are viewed by other artists.

A Tribute to Celebrities
ISBN: 9788496774384
25.00 HB
Index Book
June 08
Order from PGUK Enfield