{"title":"Series: The Metropolitan Museum of Art - How to Read","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"how-to-read-medieval-art-by-wendy-a-stein-9781588395979","title":"How to Read Medieval Art","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAn enlightening, accessible guide to understanding and appreciating European art from the Middle Ages\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow to Read Medieval Art\u003c\/i\u003e introduces the art of the European Middle Ages through 50 notable examples from the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, which is one of the most comprehensive in the world. This handsomely illustrated volume includes multi-panel altarpieces, stained glass windows, wooden sculpture, as well as manuscript illuminations, and features iconic masterworks such as the Merode Altarpiece, Unicorn Tapestries, and The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFormal explorations of individual works, chosen to exemplify key ideas crucial to understanding medieval art, are accompanied by relevant information about the context in which they were created, conveying the works’ visual nuances but also their broader symbolic meaning. Superb colour illustrations further reveal the visual and conceptual richness of medieval art, providing the reader with a deeper understanding of the history and iconography of this pivotal era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by The Metropolitan Museum of Art \/ Distributed by Yale University Press\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46796342788332,"sku":"9781588395979","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14579923482753.jpg?v=1757091873"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-european-armor-by-donald-larocca-9781588396297","title":"How to Read European Armor","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn accessibly written and superbly illustrated introduction to armor used for battle, tournament, and ceremony.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis engaging book offers an introduction to and overview of armor in Europe from the Middle Ages through the 17th century, focusing in particular on the 16th century when plate armor reached its peak of stylistic beauty and functional perfection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCreated by highly skilled armorers, often in cooperation with noted artists and commissioned by wealthy patrons, armor was worn for centuries on the battlefield, in festive tournaments, and for ceremonial events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough informative discussions of representative works from the Metropolitan Museum’s world-renowned collection, this new addition to the popular \u003cem\u003eHow to Read\u003c\/em\u003e series shows what to look for when examining armor, the pieces that make up a typical suit of armor, how the parts work, the various methods used to decorate armor, and how armor became an important part of so many museum collections today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book features a wealth of new photography of historically important armor and other works of art from the Metropolitan Museum and select pieces from other institutions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by The Metropolitan Museum of Art\/Distributed by Yale University Press.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000640782572,"sku":"9781588396297","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781588396297.jpg?v=1763292665"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-african-textiles-by-christine-giuntini-9781588397911","title":"How to Read African Textiles","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe latest volume in The Met's \u003cem\u003eHow to Read\u003c\/em\u003e series, focusing on the rich and varied textiles of Africa through forty exemplars from the nineteenth century to the present day.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the African continent, handwoven cloth and clothing have historically been labour-intensive creations deeply embedded in local and regional value systems. These fabrics could be endlessly adapted to communal and individual needs, variously serving to clothe the body, divide architectural space, protect the physical and spiritual well-being of the wearer, and convey the wealth and authority of the owner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this volume of The Met's acclaimed and popular \u003cem\u003eHow to Read\u003c\/em\u003e series, readers are guided through forty masterworks of African fibre arts, from a dynamic nineteenth-century interior hanging from Sierra Leone to a dreamlike textile canvas by contemporary Malagasy artist Joël Andrianomearisoa. Organized geographically, the book explores the complex histories of production, consumption, and exchange attached to these extraordinary works, providing clear explanations of long-standing and newly embraced techniques and materials, as well as offering readers new ways to appreciate Africa's diverse textile traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by The Metropolitan Museum of Art\/Distributed by Yale University Press.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47340857917676,"sku":"9781588397911","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/86a4fa268e749cd1b7c4643fbe7a676d.jpg?v=1772191005"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-portraits-by-kathryn-calley-galitz-9781588397645","title":"How to Read Portraits","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis latest volume in The Met's acclaimed \u003cem\u003eHow to Read\u003c\/em\u003e series explores the meaning of portraiture across time and cultures—from funerary masks to realism to abstraction.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePortraiture goes far beyond capturing a likeness. Portraits speak to such fundamental human concerns as status, relationships, and identity. Featuring more than fifty works across time and cultures and in different media, from the strikingly naturalistic mummy portraits of Roman Egypt to Pablo Picasso's Cubist abstractions to symbolic portraits by contemporary artists, this book expands the notion of what, beyond mere appearance, constitutes a portrait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKathryn Calley Galitz, author of the bestselling \u003cem\u003eThe Metropolitan Museum of Art: Masterpiece Paintings\u003c\/em\u003e, illuminates how artists and sitters through the ages have engaged with the genre to reveal character and convey power and social standing. She explores how artists as varied as Rembrandt and Cindy Sherman embraced artifice and role-playing to interrogate identity and how portraiture encompasses a wider variety of works than typically thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis re-examination of a deceptively familiar genre provides fascinating ideas about what these images can tell us about the artist, the sitter, and ourselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by The Metropolitan Museum of Art\/Distributed by Yale University Press.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47362624782572,"sku":"9781588397645","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781588397645.jpg?v=1772898204"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-european-decorative-arts-by-danielle-o-kisluk-grosheide-9781588397515","title":"How to Read European Decorative Arts","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIlluminating three centuries of European artistry and ingenuity, this volume in The Met’s acclaimed \u003cem\u003eHow to Read\u003c\/em\u003e series provides a wide-ranging exploration of decorative arts from British writing tables to Russian snuffboxes.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing 40 objects from ceramic teapots to gold chalices, this latest addition to The Met’s \u003cem\u003eHow to Read\u003c\/em\u003e series guides readers through a wide variety of decorative arts dating from the Renaissance to the start of the Industrial Revolution. The publication includes works by renowned masters like Jan van Mekeren and Andrea Boucheron, but also those by talented amateurs, such as the anonymous young woman who embroidered a casket with scenes from the Story of Esther.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe geographic sources of the decorative arts represented span the Continent, from England, Spain, and France to Germany, Denmark, and Russia. 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Sculptures of deities and architectural elements are joined by depictions of athletes, animals, and performers, as well as by funerary reliefs, perfume vases, and jewellery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe accompanying text both provides insight into Greek art as a whole and illuminates centuries of Greek life. Detailed commentaries on each work and an overview of major themes in Greek art offer a fascinating, object-focused introduction to one of the most influential cultures in Western civilisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47470843527404,"sku":"9781588397232","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781588397232-how-to-read-greek-sculpture.jpg?v=1775228132"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-buddhist-art-by-kurt-a-behrendt-9781588396730","title":"How to Read Buddhist Art","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn indispensable introduction to the evolution of Buddhist imagery from its origins in India through its spread to China, Japan, and South Asia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor more than 2,000 years, sublime works of art have been created to embody essential aspects of Buddhist thought, which developed and evolved as its practice spread from India to East Asia and beyond. \u003cem\u003eHow to Read Buddhist Art\u003c\/em\u003e introduces this complex visual tradition to a general audience by examining sixty seminal works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the origins of representations of the Buddha in India, and moving on to address the development of Buddhist art as the religion spread across Asia, this book conveys how Buddhist philosophy affected artistic works and practice across cultural boundaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReliquaries, sculptures, and paintings produced in China, the Himalayas, Japan, Korea, and South and Southeast Asia provide insight into the rich iconography of Buddhism, the technical virtuosity of their makers, and the social and political climate in which they were created.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeautiful photographs of the artworks, maps, and a glossary of the major Buddhist deities offer an engaging and informative setting in which readers—regardless of their familiarity with Buddhism—can better understand the art related to the religion’s practices and representations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by The Metropolitan Museum of Art\/Distributed by Yale University Press\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47486121214188,"sku":"9781588396730","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/d443b106bb91376e960c11676f5fda24.jpg?v=1775780837"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-islamic-calligraphy-by-maryam-ekhtiar-9781588396303","title":"How to Read Islamic Calligraphy","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn accessible introduction to the quintessential art form of the Islamic world\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow to Read Islamic Calligraphy\u003c\/em\u003e explores the preeminence of the written word as a means of creative expression throughout the Islamic world. Aimed at a general audience, the book introduces all five major Islamic calligraphic script types, demonstrates their distinctive visual characteristics, and explains the various contexts in which each one came to be used. Whether for transcribing the Qur’an, composing poetry, or issuing written edicts from the sultan’s court, numerous examples illustrate how the transmission of these styles and techniques from master to pupil was fundamental to the flourishing of Islamic calligraphy. Handwriting models from as early as the 10th century continue to inspire students of calligraphy today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSuperbly illustrated, the works discussed include manuscripts, glass, metalware, and ceramic tiles. This accessible and engaging book traces the progression of calligraphic styles over centuries and across geographical regions, affirming the spectacular range of creative possibilities afforded by this unique art form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by The Metropolitan Museum of Art\/Distributed by Yale University Press\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47536673620204,"sku":"9781588396303","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781588396303-how-to-read-islamic-calligraphy.jpg?v=1776385899"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-chinese-ceramics-by-denise-patry-leidy-9781588395719","title":"How to Read Chinese Ceramics","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChinese ceramics are among the most significant and widely collected decorative arts produced anywhere in the world, with a history that spans millennia. Despite the saturation of Chinese ceramics in global culture—in English, the word \"china\" has become synonymous with \"porcelain\"—the function of these works and the meaning of their often richly decorated surfaces are not always readily apparent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis new installment in the successful \u003ci\u003eHow to Read\u003c\/i\u003e series enlightens readers on Chinese ceramics of all kinds, using highlights from the outstanding collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as a teaching tool. Accessible to a general audience and written by an expert on the subject, this book explains and interprets 40 masterworks of Chinese ceramics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe works represent a broad range of subject matter and type, from ancient earthenware to 20th-century porcelain, and from plates and bowls to vases and sculptural figures. Lavish illustrations showcase these stunning works and the decorations that adorn them, including symbolic scenes, flowers, and Buddhist and Chinese historical figures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by The Metropolitan Museum of Art\/Distributed by Yale University Press.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47558931480812,"sku":"9781588395719","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781588395719-how-to-read-chinese-ceramics.jpg?v=1776922930"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-chinese-paintings-by-maxwell-k-hearn-9780300141870","title":"How to Read Chinese Paintings","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Chinese often use the expression \u003ci\u003edu hua\u003c\/i\u003e, \"to read a painting,\" in connection with their study and appreciation of such works. This volume closely \"reads\" thirty-six masterpieces of Chinese painting from the encyclopedic collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in order to reveal the major characteristics and themes of this rich pictorial tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book examines multiple layers of meaning—style, technique, symbolism, past traditions, and the artist's personal circumstances—through accessible texts and numerous large colour details. A dynastic chronology, map, and list of further readings supplement the text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpanning a thousand years of Chinese art, these landscapes, flowers, birds, figures, religious subjects, and calligraphies illuminate the main goal of every Chinese artist: to capture not only the outer appearance of a subject but also its inner essence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow to Read Chinese Paintings\u003c\/em\u003e is published in association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExhibition Schedule:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Metropolitan Museum of Art (1 March – 10 August 2008)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47596631261420,"sku":"9780300141870","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780300141870-how-to-read-chinese-paintings.jpg?v=1777933068"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-greek-vases-by-joan-r-mertens-9780300155235","title":"How to Read Greek Vases","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis handsomely illustrated volume is the second in a series of publications aimed at giving a broad audience deeper insight into the extensive collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 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We see the garments, implements, athletic competitions, and marriage and funerary rituals of Greeks who lived from the seventh through the fourth century B.C. We see their mythological figures and stories, for instance, the goddess Athena with her helmet, spear, and shield, and the great hero Herakles, from his first exploit as a baby to his elevation as an immortal at the end of his earthly life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe exceptional group of works assembled in this volume conveys the extent to which the culture of ancient Greece is still apparent today. Urns and jars inspired by Greek models are a staple in all types of public and private spaces. The meander patterns, palmettes, and other florals that adorn ancient vases recur in all kinds of modern objects. And the concept of the hero, or superman, first formulated and given visual form in ancient Greece is integral to Western culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow to Read Greek Vases\u003c\/em\u003e is sure to inspire closer scrutiny of these remarkable works of art, which have survived for over two millennia to offer viewers an enlightening look into the ancient heritage of the Western world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished in association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47596631359724,"sku":"9780300155235","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780300155235-how-to-read-greek-vases.jpg?v=1777933079"},{"product_id":"how-to-read-islamic-carpets-by-walter-denny-9780300208092","title":"How to Read Islamic Carpets","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarpets made in the \"Rug Belt\"—an area that includes Morocco, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and northern India—have been a source of fascination and collecting since the 13th century. 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