What Great Paintings Say: Masterpieces in Detail

Rating:
Summary: Lovely
Review: I pick up this book when I want a few minutes off in another world. The authors give a social history of the paintings, and gently explain details that I otherwise never would ahve noticed, let alone understood. It enriches my senses, strengthens my eyes. The paintings are chosen from many museums around the world. Now that I'm living in London, I read up on one painting before going to the corresponding museum.

I get so annoyed with museum placards, telling you only when the painting was painted, who by, and maybe who commissioned. This book brings the paintings to life. I wish there were a book like this for every museum collection.