Product Description
From America’s preeminent museum collection, this definitive volume places the quilt firmly in the realm of art. Combining economy with artistry and everyday craftsmanship with extraordinary beauty, quilts hold a unique place in American culture. Each quilt tells a story about its maker and her community; seen together, these monumental textiles paint a broad picture of the development of a national character and uncover the hidden history of women’s contribution to art. This volume brings together the two hundred most important examples from the esteemed collection of the American Folk Art Museum, many of which are shown here for the first time. Each masterpiece was chosen carefully as an emblem of its time, style, and technique. Concise texts introducing each chapter remain entirely accessible in tone and never intrude upon the full-page image reproductions and countless detail enlargements that reveal the intricate stitching and surprising dimensionality of the works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

wonderful photography
If find yourself wishing that photographs of antique quilts were larger so you could see the detail, this book is for you.I languished over pictures I have seen in other books.Well documented with photos and descriptions.

A Gem for Vintage Quilt Lovers
If you treasure old quilts and have a library of books on them -- you know who you are -- just go ahead and buy this volume now. Or put it on your Christmas wish list for sure.
The American Folk Art Museum has one of the country's fine quilt collections and this is finally a book that does the collection justice. Featured here are about 200 absolute masterpieces in full color, high-quality photographs. There are fantastic applique quilts, wonderful very early stuff, and some awesome Amish quilts.
My only quibble with this fine book is that there is so little text and background. I can understand that there may be many mysteries about who made many of these quilts and why, but I would have loved to hear more, in the cases where it was available.
This book will be a classic for years, no decade, to come, so don't hesitate to snap it up.The last volume on the museum's collection, which came out in the late '90s, is out of print.
One other note: the museum has declared this the "Year of the Quilt," and many of these masterpieces will be on view at the museum in Manhattan, in several shows at several locations starting Oct. 5, 2010. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a revised edition of the guide to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The guide describes the museum's vast collections and its buildings, including the Cloisters, and includes nearly 900 works of art from the museum's 18 curatorial departments, selected by the director of the museum, Philippe de Montebello. The works of art illustrated in the book range from the art of the ancient world to that of the present day. The concise format of the guide, its informative text and many illustrations, make it a handy companion to those visiting the museum, and a useful addition to the art-lover's library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide: Best Available
This is the latest guide available for the Metropolitan Museum.It provides a decent overview, but does not give a lot of depth for each of the subjects.There's no substitute for an up close and personal visit to the museum with one of their knowledgeable guides.

Memories to cherish forever!
Like the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum is a fabulously wealthy storehouse of incalculable value, "a living encyclopedia of world art. Every culture from every part of the world - from Florence to Thebes to Papua New Guinea - from the earliest times to the present and in every medium", "frequently at the highest levels of quality and invention", is represented. Also like the Louvre, its holdings are immense - "more than three million works of art, of which several hundred thousand are on view."

The guide, organized in the same fashion as the museum, suffers only by its inability to represent the museum completely. Choices had to be made. How incredible is it that the museum holds thirty paintings by Monet and the editors of the guide were forced to choose only four? How many museums in the world could lay claim to having five paintings by an artist as illustrious as Vermeer and yet be limited to including only three in their guide?

Having been fortunate enough to indulge in a recent visit to the museum, I can tell you that all five works by Vermeer and all thirty by Monet were as magnificent as one might imagine. The guide (a wonderful way to prepare in advance for any upcoming visit) will serve as a memorable souvenir and the descriptive text written by the curatorial staff of the museum will serve to elucidate the history and context of the individual pieces of art that were chosen to best represent the museum as a whole.

Highly recommended as a way of enjoying the world's art even if you think you will never be in a position to enjoy the visit in person.

Paul Weiss

Not only the kind of book that helps you to prepare for a visit and to enjoy it, but also a souvenir you will treasure...
This guide to the Metropolitan Museum of Art helped me to plan what I wanted to see in that museum, and to learn beforehand about many of the works of art I was going to find there (for example European paintings, Egyptian, Greek and Roman Art, etc...). What is more, this book allowed me to read about some paintings and sculptures I didn't have time to see, even though I would have loved to be able to do so (too many beautiful things to see, to little time). Well, I suppose next time I will just have to start by the 2nd floor!.

I think you will appreciate the beautiful color illustrations, and the opportunity to plan ahead of your trip and not in a hurry what you want to see first. This is not only the kind of book that helps you to prepare for a visit and to enjoy it, but also a souvenir you will treasure after returning from your holidays. Recommended!

Belen Alcat

Great Guide To One of The Great Museums
Phillipe de Montebello is one of the top museum directors in the world, thus he runs America's greatest museum.This guide is perfect, it allows you to get a feel for this singular museum and its extensive, to say the least, collection.So much is packed into this guide, every area of this vast collection is hit upon, and most importantly it helps you navigate this HUGE building, if you are going to tackle this emmense museum then you MUST have his guide, it really helps you make the most of your visit.It is well worth the investment, I advise getting it well before you go to the museum and read it thoroughly, it will make your trip so much more enjoyable and worthwhile I assure you..it's like taking the museum director with you..in your back pocket...though at five hundred pages you may need a uh, large back pocket...at anyrate it's easier that putting Phillipe in there, verdad?

A Solid Survey of Art in addition to a Fine Museum Guide
Before committing a couple of days to museum hopping while in New York City, a word to the wise: this book is a must for understanding the scope of the collection of the paintings, drawings, sculpture, architectural renderings, relics - everything that makes the Metropolitan Museum one of the most 'compleat' collections in the world.

Yes, the book does show outlines of the museum's layout to facilitate the enjoyment of the various sections.But more important than that, this is a compendium of examples of some of the finest art in collection.The reproductions are excellent with all of the data needed to give a brisk brush up on not only the work illustrated but the timeframe incidentals that make the Metropolitan such a user friendly museum.

Whether for the personal library or for the perfect gift for art lovers, 'The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide' in this revised form is highly recommended.Grady Harp, November 05 ... Read more

Product Description
Museum ABC is a unique and colorful picture book that uses the alphabet to introduce children to more than a hundred works of art.A full spread is devoted to each letter of the alphabet and four pictures of the object represented.This simple presentation scheme allows readers to see how objects can be both the same and different in the eyes of various artists, cultures, and time periods.Children will be fascinated to discover that boats, roses, trees, or even windows can be so different from one another and from those they see every day.Adults will love the visual and cultural richness of this alphabetical tour through the Metropolitan Museum's collection.A fact section at the end of the book provides more details about each piece of art and its creator. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

the best ABC ever
My grandchildren began enjoying this book well before their first birthdays and loved them, almost always wanting to have them "read."The book is beautifully produced and introduces each letter with four works of art from the Met collection that exemplify the letter. "B," for example, is "boat" and the four art works are from different periods and styles but all have recognizable "boats" in them.I think that we "are what we see" and giving children such beautiful images as part of their mindscapes from early on is a wonderful gift.This book and its companions,Met shapes, colors, and numbers (which follow the same format but aren't quite as compelling as the letters) have been my baby gifts of choice for some time now.

The only ABC book you need
My daughters (4 and 3) love this book.The illustrations are taken from classical works of art and are extremely engaging.They love choosing their favorite pictures.The text is bold and my older daughter loved having me spell the words for her.By placing her finger on each letter, over and over, she was able to learn her ABC's.I would buy this book for any young child.

Almost perfect
This is really a great book and a great alphabet learning tool for toddlers. The letters are all presented in very large print and the art is very lovely. It's a good, unique book for a child since most other ABC books only have very basic pictures rather than famous masterpieces. The only complaint I have is that "M is for Monster". The monsters are not the Sesame Street variety, but are actually kind of creepy-looking beasts. Not the best choice for young children. We always sort of skip the letter M.

Not just for toddlers!
I recently visited Chicago and had time to visit their art museum.When I came home, my daughter was entranced with the pictures I had taken and the fact that I stood in front of famous paintings, like "American Gothic" and "Sunday in the Park".

She's turning 9 and I'm buying this book as a birthday gift for her.Most art books are limited to a single art style or artist and I wanted a broader range collected in one book.It's great to show the books to toddlers, but don't forget older children who are starting to develop a true interest in things outside their own little world.

Great idea, but...
The implementation lacks something to be desired.Maybe a version 2 will be better. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (13)

Great book
Just a great book for anyone who likes and admires the art of fashion and the construction even.

High Style: Masterworks from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Met. Museum of Art
Can't stop drooling over this book. It has sparked some creativity! I just would of liked to have seen more views of some of the dresses.

Stunningly beautiful book!
It is a real joy to be able to see such amazing examples of preserved fashion history!As a costume designer it is inspiring as well as enjoyable reading.

Vintage couture at it's very best
If you are seeking a vintage couture resource that is complete, informative, with great photos, this would be the one for you.It is similar in feeling to the Kyoto Costume Institute book with fantastic photos and descriptions of the best of the best.I managed to see both the Brooklyn Musuem Exhibit AND the Metropolitan Museum exhibit in one weekend.These were some of the most amazing garments that one will be able to see.Most will agree that the Brooklyn Museum exhibit was laid out better and easier to see than the Met's, but they did make a nice sister exhibit.Most of the garments here are from the Brooklyn Museum with a few add ins from the collection and a few deletions from the original exhibit.But for the most part, it is pretty complete.This is a great tool for the vintage couture collector and quite an education on most of the leading designers and a few that have long become forgotten, especially the American Designers.That is the most interesting part.The Women American designers were quite informative including Eta Hentz, Bonnie Cashin, and of course, Clare McCardell.The Worth and the Charles James collections are some of the finest and perfect examples of their couture that is in existence today.That alone makes it worth purchasing this resource.
The Book is not too big and not too small.The price is right and the glossy photos and finish of the book is amazing.I recommend this book highly!

Sumptuous
A fabulously presented book with beautiful photos and informative text. Worth the price for just the Charles James section alone! A feast for the eyes and soul.
I couldn't be happier with this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Housing one of the finest and most comprehensive collections in the world, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a living encyclopedia of art. Cultures spanning the globe and dating from the ancient world to the present are represented in this beautifully illustrated book, which features over 250 masterpieces from the Museum’s collection.

The objects are arranged in chronological order by culture, beginning with ancient Egypt and ending with the twentieth century in Europe and America. Insightful text opens each section and provides historical and cultural background, while in-depth commentary accompanies each featured work.

Philippe de Montebello is director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A good book, but no substitution for a visit to this great Museum.
I suppose it's to be expected that the volume would touch on many of the works presented at the museum and that it's unreasonable to expect that it would in any way focus on one area of art over another (eg paintings). That said, to me the book does seem to give overwhelming weight to historic pieces of pottery and figurines, and less to the many magnificent paintings in the museum from the many eras covered there.

What's unfortunate is the amount of white space and text in the book. Text and pictures share almost the same amount of space across the pages. Yes, descriptions and information is important, but it seems to me in most instances white areas with text could have been limited to a smaller amount of space without reducing the word count, allowing for more images or larger images.

The Best Collection of Art
The presentation starts from the earliest artifacts known to man, and continues all the way to the twentieth century. It covers all cultures, continents and civilizations. The types of artwork include paintings, sketches, sculpture, pottery, archeological remnants, and every imaginable medium. It is comprehensive but not too exhaustive. Basically, it has a little bit of everything, and it is my favorite collection of artwork.

Found it disappointing
I found this book (the 1993 edition) very disappointing.At least half the book, and perhaps two thirds, is devoted to bronze, sculpture, pottery, and assorted other works rather than paintings.Since I was hoping for a book devoted to paintings, and could care less for these other works, I don't find it worth the $7 I spent on a very good used copy.

The illustations presented in it are of good quality though so if your interest extends beyond paintings then you may find it worth considerably more than I.

Aysegul Gungor

It is a very good book for those who do not have the opportunity to visit the museums abroad. I liked it very much. It is also useful for Art classes. I used it in my art homework and I have received a high mark.
Aysegul (12 years)

The Best of the Met
Okay, not everybody's favorite artwork from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is in here, but they have plenty of other books that cater to more specific tastes.This book includes an excellent sampling of one of the world's best art museums.You get images from artists like David, Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, Vermeer, Eakins, Velasquez, Picasso, Rodin, and more.My personal favorite in the book is "Madame X" by John Singer Sargent.

I picked up this book at the Met's gift shop as a souvenier, and I'm very pleased with it.If you've been to the Metropolitan Museum, this book provides a good reminder of what you've seen.If you've never been, this book will show you what you're missing. ... Read more

Product Description
DESCRIPTION: In this simple and elegant counting book from the worldís most renowned museum, numbersare introduced to children through masterpieces of art. Each number from one to ten has four pages devoted to it. First, readers are invited to search for how many of a certain object they can find in a single piece of art. Then, they turn the page to discover four different works illustrating that number. Information about each piece of art and its creator appear in the back of the book. While kids practice counting, adults will love the cultural richness and educational value of this tour through the Metropolitan Museumís collection, from Ancient Egyptian tomb paintings and tenth century Iranian art to the work of Vincent Van Gogh and Homer Winslow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Toddlers love it!
My grandson loves the trio of Metropolitan Museum books. He knows his colors, shapes, and numbers. This is a creative way to teach these concepts to little ones.

Great Intro to Art
The three (so far) books of this kind published by the MMA are an excellent introduction to art for small children.In this book artwork is grouped by numbers.It makes for a nice counting book for children.The artists, etc., are listed in the back making it easy for the parent to tell the children who the artist was and when the work was created.

Great idea but it didn't work.
I was so excited about these books and first of all I must say they are absolutely beautiful.However, that being said it is really hard for me to find the items in the pictures (art) they want you to count.I can't imagine how frustrating that would be for a child.

Art appreciation actually isn't intimidating!
With this absolutely beautiful book both children and adults can enjoy many different styles of art and play a counting game.I notice this book is suggested for older elementary school aged children.I know it is a big hit with my 6 year old even though she knows how to count extremely well.The art is very interesting and it is a fun game to search for what objects are the matching number for the page.As we go along we casually discuss what we like about the pictures, or what we don't like.We also discuss how some things look similar or very different.There is a very nice selection of art from America, Europe, India, China, Japan and Egypt.I think there is even something from Australia and Syria and Iran.I did not notice anything from South America or anything from Africa south of Egypt, my applogies if it is there and I missed it.I plan on reading this with preschoolers.It is my firm belief that one can not develop an appreciation of art if one does not see art.This is a very engaging way to explore the world of art.

very good counting book and more...
not only is this a very unique counting book but it allows you to share with your child fine art that they may not usually be exposed to.i use it as a counting book and an art book.it is an excellent gift to give someone as well. ... Read more

Product Description
This landmark survey represents the first effort by a major North American museum to examine its collection by highlighting the production of modern and contemporary women artists. Featuring essays by nearly 50 writers, including both MoMA curators and outside scholars, among them many of the strongest voices in current research on art and gender, this groundbreaking publication presents a variety of generational and cultural perspectives. Modern Women focuses on a diverse range of artists active from the late nineteenth century to the present whose works span the spectrum of mediums and genres in the Museum's collection. Organized chronologically into three sections-"Early Modernism," "Mid-Century" and "Contemporary"-the book comprises both long and short essays emphasizing new research on women artists within these historical time periods. Subjects include women at the Bauhaus, design collaborations, photographers between the wars, the legacy of Maya Deren, Latin American artists, performance art, architecture, land art, "Riot Grrrls," African American artists, collage and assemblage in contemporary portraiture as well as essays on individual artists such as Lillian Gish, Sybil Andrews, Diane Arbus, Ida Lupino, Hanne Darboven, Bridget Riley, Ana Mendieta, Louise Bourgeois, Adrian Piper, Nan Goldin, Zaha Hadid, Janet Cardiff and Lin Tianmiao. Heavily illustrated with works from the collection, Modern Women constructs a conversation between past considerations of MoMA's collection and current feminist narratives of art history, putting these varied modes of exploration in productive dialogue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

the missing present
Don't we all somehow wish that our grievances towards an institution would be addressed? We express our grievances, make work that we can only hope at the very least could be a small nick of a push towards the direction of the kind of world that we want (a fair one). We fan a hope, despite unabashed displays (Skin Fruit) of what Clement Greenberg calls "the umbilical cord of gold" until boom there is beautifully conceived evidence (this important book) that an institution (one whose history is inextricable to the history of Modern Art) can not only be capable of change but also a reexamination and then ultimately, a correction of itself. And so with renewed motive force, we keep moving, and push on. ... Read more

Product Description
From circles and squares to arches and stars, Museum Shapes introduces children to basic and complex shapes through The Metropolitan Museum+s extensive and varied collections of art. Each shape has two spreads devoted to it; the first spread asks what shape a certain object is in a chosen piece of art. Once the child has the answer, he or she can turn the page to verify the answer. Information about each piece of art and its creator appears in the back of the book. While children discover different shapes, adults will appreciate the aesthetic value and cultural richness of this glorious book, which features the works of a diverse range of artists including Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Awesome buy..
This book is perfect for use in my art room...lots of colorful pages that will keep the students' attention! Great vendor, too - shipped on time with an accurate description of the book! Thank you.

One of our favorites
This is a wonderful book for all ages. We have read it since my daughter was less than a year old. Very good quality and interesting images.

The oval is an ellipse
Absolutely lovely book that children will love to ponder and enjoy.It helps children truly learn how to find shapes outside the usual textbook form and also encourages finding shapes in the environment. My only complaint is that the oval depicted in the book is an ellipse. An ellipse always has two axes of reflection; an oval has one or more. So, an egg-shape is an oval, but not an ellipse.

Great book content, not in perfect condition
I got this book for my 3 1/2 year old daughter, who loves art.The book is great, but there was black marker or ink on the outside cover and pages.Not a huge problem, but if you have a 3 year old, they notice those imperfections and it drives them crazy. It was a 'bargain book' so I guess I get what I paid for.Other than that, it's a great way to expose children to art, composition, and details.Not the typical 'children's shape book'.

a beautiful book
This book is beautifully done, I loved looking at the pictures and wanted to offer a different perspective of shapes in the world. Unfortunately it does not hold my 3 year old sons interest. I think the book is worth it though and will try again when he is older. ... Read more

Product Description
After being closed for several years, on July 4, 2006, The Smithsonian American Art Museum will celebrate the grand reopening of its newly restored building, home to the world's premier collection of American art. Those who cannot attend can console themselves with this magnificent volume, which puts the museum's galleries at their fingertips. Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Nam June Paik are just a few of the artists represented in a book that spans all of American history and features gorgeous reproductions of works in a dazzling variety of styles and mediums, including paintings, sculpture, photography, and folk art. With text that illuminates the nation's history through examples of its art-including many rarely displayed pieces from the collection-this is one art book that belongs on every American coffee table. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Well illustrated but little text
Published in 2006 to mark the Museum's reopening, this very large book of 324 pages measures 32.3cm x 26.2 cm (12.75" x 10"). The text is fairly minimal; following the Foreword and Introduction each of the sixteen chapters and has but a few paragraphs of explanatory text which very briefly outline the social and political conditions of the period under discussion. There is little if any reference to the accompanying art work illustrated - it speaks for itself. The book concludes with a catalogue of the work providing details of each piece, Notes on the text and a brief Selected Bibliography.

It is undoubtedly an impressive looking volume. It is illustrated throughout in full colour (apart from the few period black and white photographs), with many of the images full page. Paintings predominate, but there is also three-dimensional work and photography; and the book is attractively laid-out. There are 225 items pictured of what the publishers claim are the Museum's best works.

With work covering over 400 years of American art, including some very familiar but no less stunning pieces, this is a very well illustrated book. The text is surprisingly not very informative as regards the art work, but the generally chronologically arrangement is in itself interesting. A book which is certainly worth having for the illustrations alone.

Beautiful coffee table book
This book is so beautiful and full of wonderful american art.I have purchased it for a dear friend in Europe who is a tour guide and expert in european art.I thought it would be a wonderful addition to her collection of art books.

America's Art by Slowik
After a 6 year restoration, the Smithsonian is slated to open this
July 4, 2006. This rendition on American Art contains priceless
reprints of famous scenes which depict ordinary households. i.e.
- The Young Moravian Girl 1755
- Mrs. James Smith and Grandson 1776
- Buffalo herds in the 1840s
- The Speculator (1852)
- Major Ballou- a letter to the wife
- The White Ballet (1904)
- High Cliff by Winslow Homer (1894)
- Saturday Evening Review (1964) by R. Buckminster Fuller

This acquisition would be perfect for Americans everywhere,
as well as a wide constituency of authors, historians and others
in general academe. ... Read more

Product Description
*Back in print*

In this classic book, readers can experience a grand tour through the history of interiors and interior design by viewing thirty-four spectacular period rooms in the Metropolitan Museum. From an ancient Roman bedroom excavated near Pompeii to a Louis XVI grand salon from eighteenth-century Paris to the Frank Lloyd Wright Room in the American Wing, these popular galleries can now be viewed at all times through the book’s beautiful color photographs and accessible explanatory text.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Worth the price...
In my opinion, this book is well worth having and a must for serious students of Interior Design and the Decorative Arts.Written in a scholarly fashion with beautiful photos, it is a marvelous resource affording the reader the opportunity to view period rooms in context.Arrived promptly in good condition, as described.

Beautiful book!
This book is one of the most helpful architecture and furniture books I have found. The met has put together a wide variety of periods and locations to let us look into the rooms of times past. The pictures arestunning and the descriptions are very informative. ... Read more

Product Description
An essential companion for every art and museum lover, whether on the road or from your armchair. Much more than a simply practical guide, this book is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour not only of this country's great museums but also of the history of art in America. Suzanne Loebl is the perfect, passionate companion, as she takes you from the august halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the intimate galleries of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, from the breathtaking gardens surrounding the Huntington in San Marino, California, to the Hispanic Heritage Wing of the International Museum of Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She gives you a tour of the physical space and the museum's most beloved or noteworthy works, and an overview of how both the collection and the building came to be—fascinating histories of personal taste, serendipity, civic pride, and astute management. The book includes the essential information about hours, location, and activities for children at each museum as well as a convenient index to collection strengths. 70 b/w illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

No US traveler should be without it
If you travel with a list of local NPR stations so you can keep up with commercial free information and news, then this is the perfect traveling companion.The listings and descriptions of large and small museums, both specialized and general are delightfully informative.Ms Loebl has certainly done her homework.This is a must for family trips. ... Read more

Product Description
An “intriguing” oral portrait of the people behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Entertainment Weekly)

Using more than fifty interviews, award-winning writer Danny Danziger creates a fascinating mosaic of the people behind New York’s magnificent Metropolitan Museum of Art. From the aristocratic, acerbic director of the museum, Philippe de Montebello, to the curators who have a deep knowledge and passionate appreciation of their collections, from the security guards to the philanthropists who keep the museum’s financial life blood flowing, Danziger brings to life this extraordinary world through the words of those who are devoted to making the Met the American institution it surely is. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Behind the Scenes at the Met
The book is fascinating, presenting the views of the staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the security to the curatorial departments. The book shows how each individual is important and helps the museum in their own way.The book arrived on time in the condition described by the seller.

Great Book
This is fabulous book, but then again there's a chapter about
me, so perhaps you should ask someone else.

It's ok, but I could easily put it down.....
This book sounded greater in the review than it did when I was reading it.Some of the short narratives by a wide variety of people who work in the museum were quite interesting, but I thought that the book as a whole was rather disconnected.When I finished the last narrativce I was surprised to discover that it was the end of the book.....as I felt that it really needed something to wrap it up. More about the museum itself would have given all the narratives a big "umbrella" to fall under.....

A different kind of museum tour...
The author Danny Danziger has skillfully edited a series of 52 interviews with a diverse group of curators, support staff, trustees, and the Met's Director Philippe de Montebello. The result is a vivid picture of an institution, with many fascinating life stories and thoughtful comments on the museum from very different but all compelling points of view.

Could have been so much better
This book is mostly a series of condensed and edited interviews with the staff of the Metropolitan. Anyone looking to get the big picture or a great narrative like Calvin Tompkins provided in 'Merchants and Masterpieces' will be disappointed, as I was. All of the interviews provide interesting little nuggets of information, and a few are really fun to read (the best one is with the museum's director, Philippe de Montebello, who seems like a total gent) but all of them could have been trimmed back by about half. This book is mostly padding. And with so many people talking about their jobs without any sense of context, you begin to wonder what the point of this book is. It seems like a memento for people who work at the Met, not a book directed to outside readers. Maybe Danziger was going for the kind of effect that Studs Terkel gets with some of his interview books, like "Working," but Danziger, who is basically voiceless for most of the book, doesn't direct the conversations to big themes the way Terkel can. Basically, you should only read this if you are Met Museum groupie. Otherwise skip it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
To choose 1,000 works to represent a museum whose total collection exceeds 100,000--now that's curating. Imagine the restraint required to compile a catalog of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York--the first museum exclusively dedicated to art of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the first to recognize modern-art disciplines (photography, film, industrial design, installation). The collection is carefully and tastefully represented in this 600-page tome. Multiple frontispieces representing each of the museum's departments welcome the reader, followed by a thorough and illustrated introduction to the museum's directors, exhibitions, donors, acquisitions, and architecture.

Then comes the good stuff: 1,000 works from the museum's six curatorial departments: Painting and Sculpture, Drawings, Prints and Illustrated Books, Architecture and Design, Photography, and Film and Video, each section introduced by an essay explaining the development of the particular collection. Clear, large, color illustrations of Cezanne's The Bather, Munch's Madonna, Wyeth's Christina's World, and sculpture by Oldenburg, Serra, Morris, and Beuys leave a reader gasping, "They havethat?"

First published in 1984, the book was reprinted in 1997 by Abradale, Abrams's more affordable imprint. While the huge catalog is now less expensive, keep in mind that its content has not been revised since its first edition. Regardless, it's a valuable testament to the quality and scope of one of the world's greatest art collections. It's hard not to want to see all of the works that didn't make it into the catalog. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

*An absolute must for all modern art lovers*
Fabulous art collections by the modern masters - complete with many descriptions of the pieces. Papers used are great to touch, pictures are lovely to see and a great binding with dust jacket. A wonderful treat to add to your library.Buy it, you won't regret it!

a must have!
this is a collectable book that will always be returned to whether to browse or find information.the quality of the paper makes the pictures perfect and a great joy to look through..

this is a true account ofmodern art in its brightest forms..it is wonderful to see this publicationwhen so many contemporary art books fail in quality.

an excellent companion to the world's finest museum
There are no greater storehouses of modern art in the world than MOMA in New York, a treasure house of many of the greatest works of the century. Any place you can find Dali, Magritte, Pollock, Picasso and Warhol rubbingshoulders is fine by me so this book is a real delight. For those of youwho love the work of the 20th century, this is a must. For those of you whodon't get it, get a life and get this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Art museums have emerged in recent decades as the most vibrant and popular of all cultural institutions. Though art museums have never been more popular, their direction and values are now being contested as never before--both in the media and in the art world itself. This engaging thematic history of the art museum from its inception in the eighteenth century to the present offers an essential framework for understanding contemporary debates as they have evolved in Europe and the United States. From the visionary museums of Boullée in the eighteenth century to the new Guggenheim in Bilbao and beyond, it explores key aspects of museum theory and practice: ideals and mission; architecture; collecting, classification, and display; the public; commercialism; and restitution and repatriation. The only single volume to give a comprehensive account of the issues critical to museums, the book also highlights the challenges they will face in the future. ... Read more

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This magnificent volume showcases the
highlights from a world-renowned collection of African textiles, ceramics, jewelry, masks, and figures from more than fifty different cultures.
The Brooklyn Museum was one of the first North American institutions to collect and exhibit African material culture as art rather than artifact. Today the museum's collection numbers more than six thousand pieces and is noted for its artistic quality and educational value, as well as a breadth and depth that would be impossible to achieve today. Major works from all areas of sub-Saharan Africa are included in the collection's vast holdings, while the figurative sculpture and masks of Central Africa constitute its most significant focus. More than 130 of those pieces are featured in this large-format compendium, which includes essays by the museum's emeritus curator of African art and a leading scholar on the subject. Taking readers through a cultural exploration of the continent, the collection encompasses regions from Western Sudan and the southwestern Congo to the Equatorial Forest and southern Africa. Carefully photographed and presented in luminous color, these pieces create a stunning introduction to the rich traditions of African art and culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

African Tribal Art Brooklyn Museum
I had a chance to see the exhibition in the book in September 2009. The book color plates do justice to the displayed items. The verbage explaining the items is better than most books. And the preface writeup of the Brooklyn Museum's history is actually interesting. If you get to NYC, take a day and go to Brooklyn to see the exhibit.
BTW I bought the book thru Amazon. A good price for the book. ... Read more

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Located in the basement of a theater, the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) is a unique institution dedicated to the celebration of artistic effort, however misguided. The Museum of Bad Art: Masterworks presents a pulsating collection of more than seventy never-before-published pieces of artwork from MOBA's permanent collection. Comprised largely of canvases found discarded on curbside trash piles or obtained for a pittance at thrift stores, this innovative compilation occupies a niche previously ignored in the international community of art collection, preservation, and interpretation. If the subjectivity of art appreciation were ever in doubt, this astonishing assortment of artistic commentaries will fan the flames of controversy. It is clear that many of these artists suffered for their art; now it's your turn. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Very Entertaining
A wonderful complement to the real museum. If you haven't gotten to the community theater in Dedham, MA, see a good movie, go to the bathroom, and discover MOBA! The book has the same sense of the absurd as the museum and makes a great present.

Great little treasure of a book
What a fun ride it is through these selections from the Museum of Bad Art,.....yes, it really exists and I'm saving up my money to go there!As an art teacher and artist myself, I can appreciate these "bad" works that have been rescued from rather deserving destruction by kind souls seeking to find equality even for works that just don't,........work that is.And it's not just anything that qualifies for this collection,....there are rather strict criteria that each work must meet before becoming part of the collection.This is such a fun little book that everyone who likes art at all should have a copy.It makes fantastic toilet reading and sure beats those everyday magazines that find their way into the powder rooms of America.

MOBA rules
Love MOBA. Love the book. Love the way they talk about Bad Art. Love the Museum in the lobby of a men's restroom in the basement of a movie theatre. Love all of it.

Great fun!
As an art history major, I have a special love-hate relationship with kitsch, which is why the first MOBA book is one of my all-time favorites. This second one is also a great book for any art library, with some real high points. However, it doesn't quite measure up to the original volume, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five. It may be that the presentation suffers a bit from the smaller trim size (it's quite small, if you didn't pick that up from the description). And it may be that the novelty factor was completely co-opted by the first book. But I also think that some of the selections aren't quite as unabashedly ghastly as the ones in the first book. I have indeed enjoyed perusing it and chortling on multiple occasions, but a little more selectivity and a lower bar, and I might have awarded it that coveted fifth star.

Museum of Bad Art
I bought a couple of these for my "fun" loving friends, unfortunately one is a struggling artist with no sense of humor, the other a great physician with a great sense of humor. One negative, two positive (counting me) ain't bad. ... Read more

Product Description
As children start to learn the differences between night and day, big and small, and old and new, Art Museum Opposites can teach them how to understand these distinctions visually by using paintings, sculptures, and other objects from the famed collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In 15 full-colour spreads, young readers can have fun comparing a bright summer day as painted by Marc Chagall with a moonlit night as depicted by Joan Miro, or contrasting "inside" and "outside" by spot-ting the differences between scenes of monkeys as represented by Antoine Vollon and Henri Rousseau. Written by museum educators Katy Friedland and Marla K. Shoemaker, the authors of the award-winning A is for Art Museum, the images in Art Museum Opposites prompt children to compare the images on each spread and make up stories about what they see. The works of art featured in this book will stimulate children's imaginations, inspire interactions between adults and kids, and encourage a trip to the museum to see the works first-hand. Recommended for ages 4-8 Published in association with the Philadelphia Museum of Art ... Read more

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The quintessential guide to folk art in America, based on the landmark Whitney Museum exhibit of 1974, illustrates more than 400 outstanding examples of American craft, covering four major categories--painted, drawn, or stitched pictures; sculpture; architectural decoration; and decorated household objects. 400 b&w and full-color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great addition to any folk art library
For anyone interested in Early American Folk Art, this book is a "must".Like other books written on this subject by Jean Lipman, this book which was co-authored by Lipman and Alice Winchester, is truly expertly written and illustrated, using a great blend of some 400 folk art examples from pre-revolution American until 1876.

AWESOME !
A must have for everyone interested in American Folk Art.Great color prints.Excellent essays.

Great value
This is an unbelievable price for a book so full of high-quality black-and-white and color plates.Not much text, but an excellent source of patterns for very appealing american folk-art motifs. ... Read more