Art Nouveau by Rosalind Ormiston and Michael Robinson

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

An often overlooked gem of our collection is the Oversized Books.  While there are books on many topics, from cake decorating to NASCAR, many of the books are on art.  One new to us entry is Art Nouveau:  Posters, Illustration & Fine Art from the Glamorous Fin de Siecle by Rosalind Ormiston and Michael Robinson. While the title sounds ponderous, the contents are not.  Art Nouveau refers to a style that became popular around the 1890s-early 1900s in Europe and in America. It tended to feature natural elements like flowers and trees, and flowing lines.  Women have beautifully draped clothes and wonderfully curling hair, along with wavy or circular design elements. Many well-known posters of the era used art nouveau design, most notably Alphonse Mucha’s posters for Sarah Bernhardt or Theophile Steinlen’s cat posters advertising everything from theater performances to beer to chocolate. In fact, advertising posters are perhaps the best known examples of Art Nouveau, as struggling artists found that a more lucrative way to make a living than waiting for commissions or hoping to sell paintings. These are instantly recognizable, even if you don’t know the artist or the particular work. “Le Chat Noir” or “Moulin Rouge” are among the best known.  American Louis Comfort Tiffany’s famous lampshades and windows are another famous example of that style as is Gustav Klimt’s painting “The Kiss" which adorns the book's cover.

The book itself is a gorgeous compilation.  Although posters and paintings form the bulk of the book, there are pieces of furniture, stained glass, and stunning jewelry included as well.  Ormiston is an art teacher and Robinson writes on British art and design, so they are well suited to provide the text.  It’s both readable and informative, if one can take one’s eyes off the glorious art long enough. 

While I recognized several names, there were new ones to discover as well.  I also hadn’t realized the influence of Japanese and other Asian art on the Art Nouveau movement, and there are literary influences as well.  I like that the authors show examples along with the definitions to help me see exactly what is meant.

As an added local bonus, the William King Art Museum in Abingdon has “The Art of Advertisement” exhibit going on now until October 27, 2024 which features Art Nouveau posters from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts collection. The Museum is free and if you enjoy this style, it’s well worth a visit. There are other exhibits as well, including one on the Highlands Festival.

Spotlight on Oversized Books!

 Reviewed by Kristin

Bristol Public Library has a very nice selection of books that are too large to fit on the regular shelves.  You might imagine large coffee table books of Monet paintings or the 100 most scenic golf courses of the world.  In addition to books like these, you can see beautiful pictures of the crown jewels or dollhouse miniatures.  Find these special volumes in the oversize section, just beyond the new non-fiction.  Ask at the reference desk if you need directions!

Southern Appalachian Celebration Photographs by James Valentine, text by Chris Bolgiano
Valentine is well-known for his photographs of the southeast.  This volume spans the mountains of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.  Stunning forest and floral views make this a photographic showcase to remember.


A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces Created by Matthew Naythons and Lewis J. Korman
Civilian and military photographers documented life throughout all the United States Armed Forces on October 22, 2002.  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members all over the world were photographed during training, active duty and leisure time activities. From Special Forces training in the Philippines to bedding down at night on Ky Thuong Mountain in Vietnam, this book presents a view of the daily lives of our armed forces.

The Crown Jewels by Anna Keay
Along with full color pictures of the British crown jewels, Keay includes a history of these valued artifacts.  Many craftsmen’s design drawings are reproduced alongside the finished products.  Also included is a complete inventory of the crown jewels kept in the Tower of London.  It’s not just crowns, rings and sceptres; we can’t forget the “Ladle for the Grand Punch Bowl” made for Queen Victoria in 1841 or the “Spurs” made for Charles II in 1660-61.

Tennessee: A Homecoming edited by John Netherton
From turtle races in Ducktown to Rock City signs in Greene County, this book encompasses a wide variety of sights around the Volunteer state.  Using both color and black and white film, twenty-four of Tennessee top photographers traveled the state and took thousands of pictures to be considered for this compilation.

Virginia 360 by Mark Benjimen Carey
Written for the 400 year anniversary of Virginia’s settlement, Carey presents wide, panoramic photos arranged by geographical sections of the state.  Each page has interesting information about the subject and an address, GPS coordinates, and/or a website related to the location.  In addition, readers can play hide and seek while searching for the author’s Jack Russell Terrier, Chester, in most of the photographs.  (Chester was respectful and stayed out of view for historic cemeteries and military tributes.)

The Dollhouse Book by Stephanie Finnegan
Shaped like a house, this volume includes primitive dollhouse styles as well as an elaborate Palace of Versailles.  For every child (or adult) who enjoys dollhouses, this book is a peek into a wide variety of miniatures found round the world.  The attention to detail will amaze you, and leave you wanting a closer look.

The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World Photographs by Guillaume De Laubier, Text by Jacques Bosser
We might be biased, but this is a beautiful book about beautiful libraries.  From the Vatican Library to the New York City Public Library lions, (named “Patience” and “Fortitude” and made from Tennessee marble), these institutions have immense cultural value.  Classical paintings abound in many of the libraries featured, as well as intricate carvings and sculptures.  Of course, the central feature of each of these places is the book collection.