The Art Of Looking Up

By (author) McCormack, Catherine
Short description/annotation
A desirable art book surveying 40 spectacular ceilings from around the world, including those that have graced the brushes of artists including Michelangelo, Marc Chagall and Cy Twombly.
Description
The Art of Looking Up surveys spectacular ceilings around the globe that have been graced by the brushes of great artists including Michelangelo, Marc Chagall and Cy Twombly.

From the lotus flowers of the Senso-ji Temple in Japan, to the religious iconography that adorns places of worship from Vienna to Istanbul, all the way to Chihuly''s glass flora suspended from the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas – this book takes you on a tour of the extraordinary artworks that demand an alternative viewpoint.

Art historian Catherine McCormack guides you through the stories behind the artworks – their conception, execution, and the artists that visualised them. In many cases, these works make bold but controlled political, religious or cultural statements, revealing much about the society and times in which they were created. Divided by these social themes into four sections – Religion, Culture, Power and Politics – and pictured from various viewpoints in glorious colour photography, tour the astounding ceilings of these and more remarkable locations:

• Vatican Palace, Rome, Italy; 
• Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, UK; 
• Louvre Museum, Paris, France; 
• Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres, Catalonia; 
• Museum of the Revolution, Havana, Cuba; 
• Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA. 

Four eight-page foldout sections showcase some of the world''s most spectacular ceilings in exquisite detail.

First and foremost, this is a visual feast, but also a desirable art book that challenges you to seek out fine art in more unusual places and question the statements they may be making.
Table of contents
1 Religion
Neonian Baptistery, Ravenna, Italy
Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,
St Petersburg, Russia
Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain
Imam Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
Vatican Palace, Rome, Italy
Church of the Buckle, Göreme, Turkey
San Pantalon Venice, Italy
Debre Berhan Selassie Church, Gondar, Ethiopia
Senso¯-ji Temple, Tokyo, Japan
 
2 Culture
Palais Garnier, Paris, France
Burgtheater, Vienna, Austria
Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Dalí Theatre-Museum, Figueres, Catalonia
Strahov Monastery, Prague, Czech Republic
Metro Stations, Stockholm, Sweden
National Theatre, San José, Costa Rica
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Toluca Botanical Gardens, Mexico City, Mexico
Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, USA
 
3 Power
Banqueting House, London, UK
Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain
Palazzo del Te, Mantua, Italy
Badal Mahal, Rajasthan, India
Palazzo Barberini, Rome, Italy
Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, UK
Palazzo Chiericati, Vicenza, Italy
Royal Palace of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
Chinese Palace, St Petersburg, Russia
Würzburg Residence, Würzburg, Germany
 
4 Politics
Palazzo Farnese, Rome, Italy
Augsburg Town Hall, Augsburg, Germany
City Hall, Barcelona, Spain
Old Royal Naval College, London, UK
United Nations Office, Geneva, Switzerland
Museum of the Revolution, Havana, Cuba
Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy
Capitol Building, Washington DC, USA
 
Further Reading
Index
Picture Credits
 
Review quote
"...deepens our perspective of 40 of the most artistic, fascinating and iconic ceilings around the world."
Biographical note