Masterpieces of 19th-Century Decorative Art – Meisterwerke dekorativer Kunst des 19. Jahrhunderts -Obras maestras de las artes decorativas del siglo XIX – Chefs-d’oeuvre des arts décoratifs du XIXe siècle – Capolavori dell’arte decorativa del XIX secolo. AA.VV.. The Pepin Press, 2005.

The Pepin Press; 2005; 9789054960966; Copertina flessibile; 28 x 22 cm; pp. 400; Volume illustrato in b./n.; Presenta leggeri segni d’uso ai bordi (piccole imperfezioni), interno pulito (piccola scritta a biro a pag 201). Multilingue; Buono (come da foto). ; There are approximately 2000 objects presented in this book. They form a selection of the masterpieces of decorative art displayed in the great world exhibitions of London (1862) and Paris (1867). These exhibitions were typical phenomena of the time, in which were shown the best creations of European craftsmen, combined with the trophies of colonial trade: ceramics from China, lacquerwork from Japan, textiles from India, carpets from Persia, metal carving from North Africa, etc. In respect of decorative styles, the 19th century was not particularly innova-tive, but eclectic to the extreme. Apart from incorporating Oriental influences, the great styles of the past were rejuvenated and unashamedly combined: it was quite possible to find an ancient palmetto border blended with Renaissance elements, and Greek or Pompeian imagery used on otherwise Baroque items. The neo-Gothic style, which emerged at the end of the 18th century, was still evident at the time of the great exhibitions.The resurgence of classical styles in the 19th century was driven by the establishment of major art and craft schools across Europe, which educated generations of designers and artisans with a deep understanding of art history. The widespread publication of affordable pattern books also helped popularize classical design forms. Two key developments fueled the growing demand for decorative objects: the rise of a middle class that could afford artistically crafted household items, and the Industrial Revolution, which enabled mass production. Art, once reserved for the elite, became increasingly accessible to a broader audience…. ; L’immagine se disponibile, corrisponde alla copia in vendita.