Rating: 
Summary: totally enjoyable
Review: A simply enjoyable book for those of us that appreciate art but do not have the time nor the resources to devote much time to it. One can sit down and just study one or two pictures and feel the sense of the picture. I have found my 13 year old paging through it at times and studying the pictures. I don't think I could get her to read too many other art books. Sister Wendy's reviews give us a place to start to think about what the artist was trying to achieve. Perhaps having this book in the home will lead to a greater interest and study. But, if not, it will surely make one appreciate the diversity and beauty of the art world over the centuries.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best book on art
Review: As an art history student I have seen many things about art as well as seen many paintings in this book. My question is what was she thinking with some of her selections? The tub by Degas? Hello. Lots of his work is more well known. Ballet dancers anyone? Also the "masterpiece" by Van Gogh, is one i've never seen. Being my art teacher's favorite artist we covered him in depth but I've never seen that painting. I would have picked Starry night or even Night cafe. Goya was another. He hated his pictures of the royal family so why pick one as his masterpiece? The traits of the royal family (she said were in the painting) were ones he made up! Some of the masterpices were also ones anybody who knows art the least liitle bit knows. For example the Old King, another was Grunwald's Crucifixtion. Also she also used scandel and contversory to become a masterpiece. Olympia by Manet.
Rating: 
Summary: Sister Wendy knows nothing about art
Review: Despite her popular success, Sister Wendy knows nothing about art.In attempting to bring art appreciation to the public, there is nothing more noble than what Sister Wendy is doing. What I question is the kind of appreciation she brings. Sister Wendy's methodology is to tell stories about paintings. That is, she tells stories about the content of paintings. But, there is more to art than content. If content was the only important issue in art, there would be no need for various artistic mediums. After all, photography is just as good, if not quite a bit better, at factual representation than painting. Or, for example, if the idea content of fiction was the only reason for reading literature, there would be no reason to read literature. Non-fiction essays or histories would do just as well. Indeed, it requires little or no training to move from the unique, intrinsic character of a work itself to the ideas or facts with which the work is concerned. But, no one, aside from perhaps Sister Wendy and her ilk, looks at art, listens to music, or reads literature simply for content, for content alone can do nothing to reveal the sources of pleasure that a particular work affords. Instead, aesthetes "prattle on about color, technique, or social context" because those ingredients add to, not distract from, the experience of art. For example, critics study color theory because color effects people's emotions. Understanding how an artist manipulates color to achieve a certain effect helps one understand how art achieves its emotional impact. Indeed, study of artistic technique is vital for appreciation of the arts because without it there is no vocabulary with which to discuss one's experience of enjoyment (and without vocabulary, perhaps there is no thought or enjoyment). And, even if content held preeminent position in the aesthetic hierarchy, techniques such as color, form and composition, positive and negative space, or meter, structure, rhyme scheme help explicate the content. After all, what is aesthetic experience if not the alert perception of art?
Rating:
Summary: A decent woman.
Review: Full of insights.
Rating: 
Summary: A Solid Introduction To Classic Art.
Review: I got this book out the library and enjoyed it so much that I purchased it online. Sister Wendy is a great art critic,especially for people who might be intimated by it. She is to the point,uses unfussy language and truly seems to love painting. I did question some of her choices,but art is a subjective medium,.and overall,I agreed with many of them, Although why she didn't include the "Mona Lisa" or Dega's dancer's is beyond me. Finally,she is very-open minded (considering her vocation) so a lot her choices were pleasantly surprising. Enjoy the beautifully reproduced paintings and pick your own favorite works..
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Selection
Review: I love this book. The reproductions are fantastic, and although I don't always agree with the choice of artists and paintings (no two people could), it is undeniably a staggering array of great art. I cannot recommend this highly enough: it is the perfect single-volume work for anyone who wants an introduction to some of the world's greatest paintings.
Rating:
Summary: totally enjoyable
Review: I was delighted to receive this book as a gift. Sister Wendy uses economy of word to get the point across--because of this, she is able to share the master works of many of the world's greatest artists. She offers a fresh and unique perspective, and has a great understanding of symbolism. Definitely worth buying!
Rating:
Summary: A good snapshot of the individual artists
Review: I was delighted to receive this book as a gift. Sister Wendy uses economy of word to get the point across--because of this, she is able to share the master works of many of the world's greatest artists. She offers a fresh and unique perspective, and has a great understanding of symbolism. Definitely worth buying!
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent Anthology of Western Art!
Review: If you are looking for a work that covers art history, from medieval religious paintings to abstract expressionism, look no further. There are 1,000 paintings shown in their authentic beauty. 500 of the world's greatest artists are featured. Sister Wendy makes each piece of art an intellectual experience. She explains the paintings so you will never look at them again in the same way. How I wished she had been with me when I visited the Louvre a few years ago. Somehow, I felt I was missing some insight into the greatest art I would ever see. And by the way, the Mona Lisa's eyes did freak me out...they follow you! While watching a recent special on Claude Monet, I realized there was so much more to the art than just the scene being painted. How did the artist feel when he created the work? What emotions is he trying to convey to the viewer? In Sister Wendy's book: Love: Meditations on Love, she brought a new meaning to Camille on Her Deathbed, and oil on canvas by Claude Monet. Since then, I have been intrigued with her observations. My mother has a bed spread based on a painting by Claude Monet. I love the art of Renoir much more, but one day we will travel to Paris together and really enjoy going to museums. For now, this book and local galleries will have to do! If you are looking for in-depth information on each artist, you might however be a bit dissapointed. This book could not possibly hold that much information. What you will find is that you will gravitate to one artist or the other. In this way, this book is only the start of your journey. I only found one page on Renoir, but then discovered she has also written a book called: Sister Wendy's Impressionist masterpieces which now I must have! This is a book to be savored. If you can sneak in a few minutes each day to look at a few pages, you will really enrich your life. After seeing this book, you will want to find more of Wendy Beckets inspirational books. This one will now have a permanent place on my coffee table! If you can, visit the Louvre. They also have a tempting food court! Visit Paris and you will never regret it. Just don't only spend a weekend there, spend a entire week! There is way too much for an art lover to see in a weekend! The Louvre deserves at least two days at the very least. Plus, the food there is so worth going back for! I would highly recommend a tour because otherwise you might miss something important. My favorite picture of all is "Sleeping Girl with Cat by Renoir, 1880." Write to me if you would like to know where to see the painting. No, it isn't in this book, sigh.
Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self.
- Jean-Luc Godard
Rating:
Summary: Great Book.
Review: If you like the show you will love the book.
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