My Favorite Things: 75 Works of Art from Around the World

168 Pages·1999·20.555 MB·English

by  Wendy Beckett

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U.S.A. $29.95
Canada $39.95
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Through her popular television series and
numerous books on art, Sister Wendy
Beckett has introduced millions to the
pleasures of painting and sculpture. Now, with
MyFavorite Things: 75 Works ofArtfromAround
the World, SisterWendygivesus her most personal
and eclectic book to date.
In shortessays, SisterWendyconveys her affec-
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tion for 75 favorite works of art. Her diverse and
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of
engaging selection covers painting, sculpture,
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decorative art, even architecture. Some of her
ice
choices are quite famous; among them works by
Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Vermeer,
HHifeii"
Mautiiug Cup
to namejust afew. Then there are thoseunexpected
surprises, like a Chinese painting and French A PRIM2E OF
SS
porcelain figures. Each work of art is assessed sl
with fondness and admiration, whether it is an icon
Voujv'o
ofWestern art historyor a little-known work byan /l?e
I
anonymous artist.
Woman Bd
Lavishlyillustrated in color, MyFavorite Things with the Pearl
is agreat introduction tovarious styles and periods ^Mman
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in art history for readers of all ages. For Sister in
Wendy's innumerable fans, this book is a splendid
collection ofessaysthatwill remind themwhythey
fell in love with her in the first place. Everyonewill
be charmed by Sister Wendy's joyful and lively
prose and her Superb choice of artworks that
deserve universal admiration.
75plates infull color
SAINjTJOH
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YOUTH WITH HEAD RIBBON
Ascensio Julia
)0I1 c/he Cnev. UJr.&\obed^Walker O)kaiingon UJuddtngdon
ACHILLES KJLLINC
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The
beaf City Biglin Brothers Racin<
klft iLJ/Mfrff Detail from
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Woman
^iceroT^Acnjvo JL
Readina a Letter
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oiscoveReO
rist im
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res and Foals Beneath Large Oak Trees
tAtfiena
PTIST RETIRING TO THE DESERT
&t. Jerome
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CAimg Ascanius Shooting the Staa ofSjlvi

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(favorite
75 Works Art
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from Around World
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FOR DAVID WILLCOCK WHO HAS HELPED ME FIND SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Project Manager: Julia Moore
Oh
Editor: Jungha
Designer: Carol Ann Robson
Photo Editor: John Crowley
LibraryofCongress Cataloging-irrPublication Data
Beckett, Wendy.
My favorite things 75 works ofart from around the world
:
Sister Wendy Beckett,
p. cm.
ISBN 0-8109-4387-5
1 Art appreciation. I Title.
N7477.B4 1999
709—dc21 5-53881
Page 3. Photo ©Justin Pumfrey
Page 1 and5. Giovanni di Paolo. SaintJohn the Baptist Retiring to the Desert(detail).
National Gallery, London (see pages 88-89)
Copyright © 1999 Sister Wendy Beckett
Published in 1 999 by Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, New York
All rights reserved. No part ofthe contents of this book may be reproduced
without the written permission ofthe publisher
Printed and bound in Hong Kong
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 00
1 ] 1
www.abramsbooks.com
introduction
thought it would be easy to choose my favorite things, but it has
been very difficult. There are too many of them! I have boxes and
I boxes andboxes, allfilledtothetopwith illustrations andpostcards
and other reproductions. When I start to look at them, I begin to see
why I love each one, and for the moment, the one in my hand is my
"favorite." So, the seventy-five pieces in this book arejust some ofmy
best-loved works ofart. Theyare not all considered as "great" works
ofart, but theyare all good art, all beautiful.
It is hard to explain what makes awork ofartbeautiful. I think the
best way is to say that you never get tired of looking at it, that you
always see more in it, that it gives you a sense of being satisfied, of
being at peace yet alive and eager.
Wliat matters in this hook is the pictures. What I have written is
not important. Use it or lake no notice, whatever yon like. Bui Ilie
pictures need real looking at. II'you just turn the pages quickly, you
will onlysee a small pari oftheir "meaning," their "beauty." Von must
take time,just asyou do with a hook. The cover does not tell you what
the hook is really like, you have to read it. You have to read these pic-
tures, too, in a way. You will never find it a waste ofyour time.
LIST OF PLATES
Womanfrom Brassempouy 8
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. The Woman with tht Paul 9
PaulCezanne.Li Lacd'Annecy 12—13
Carlo Crivelli. Tht Annunciation with Saint Emidius 15
Owl, detail oflate-17th-centurytile panel 16
Pieterde Hooch..1 Woman PeelingApples 18
Lucas ('ranach the Elder.A PrinassofSaxony 21
Thomas Gainsborough. .J//-, andMrs. Andrews 22-23
Gianlorenzo Bernini.ApolloamiDaphne 25
Edouard Manet..1 Barat tin Folies-Bergere 26-27
Lubin Baugin. LeDessertdt Oaufrettes 28
Francisco de Zurbaran. StiMLife-. Lemons, Oranges&a Host 29
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Madame MoitessierSeated 30
Jean-Francois .Millet. Headofa YoungGirl 33
Francescodi Giorgio Martini. TheIdeal ('it// 34—35
Michelangelo Buonarroti. Entrance Hall, Laurentian Library 36-37
John Constable. TheHay-Wain 40-41
Thomas Eakins. The Biglin BrothersRacing 42-43
•Jean-Simeon Chardin. The YoungSchoolmistress 44
Guido Reni. SaintMatthew tin Evangelist 46
Attributed toGiuseppe Gricci. Pottery Vendor 48
Chocolate cup and saucer 49
•Ian Davidz. de Ileem. StillLife with a Nautilus Cup 50
Albreeht Diirer. Self-portrait 52
Francisco Goya.AscensidJulid 55
•John Singer Sargent. ElJaleo 56—57
Raphael. Saint CatherineofAlexandria 59
JohannesVermeer. ViewofDelft 60-61
Vincent Van Gogh. The Starr;/Night 62-63
Tfu Night Tryst 65
•lean Antoine Watteau. Mezzetin 66
OrazioGentileschi. TheLutePlayer 67
Pisanello. Reverse ofthe medal for Lionellod'Este 70
Simone .Martini. Christ Discovered in tin Temple 72
Rembrandt van Bjjn.Athena 75
Lorenzo Lotto. Detail from St. BernardinoAltarpiece 76
VincenzoPoppa. Tht YoungCiceroReading 78-79
(riovanni Bellini. SaintJeromeReading SI
(llaude Lorrain.Ascanius Shooting tin StagofSylvia 82—83