Prehispanic Mexican Art

Fülszöveg

Prehispanic Mexican Art
By Paul Westheim and others
193 plates in full color 225 monochrome illustrations
Prehispanic Mexican Art presents a comprehensive review of some of the most intriguing works ever made by man-the statues, paintings, buildings, figurines and other objects created by the ancient Indians who lived in what today is Mexico. Mysterious temples. Lofty pyramids. Stone carvings of barbaric gods. Intricate murals and manuscripts. Polychrome pottery. Gold jewelry. And most appealing of all, the myriad figurines of these peoples that reveal a glimpse of a life long gone and at the same time a humanity that spans the ages.
Only now is the art-conscious public beginning to be fully aware of the historical importance, aesthetic achievements, and technical triumphs of the Aztecs, Maya, and other Indians of ancient Mexico. Now, in this book, all the complex beauty of their works is captured in a series of stunning photographs. Archives of museums, libraries, and other... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Prehispanic Mexican Art
By Paul Westheim and others
193 plates in full color 225 monochrome illustrations
Prehispanic Mexican Art presents a comprehensive review of some of the most intriguing works ever made by man-the statues, paintings, buildings, figurines and other objects created by the ancient Indians who lived in what today is Mexico. Mysterious temples. Lofty pyramids. Stone carvings of barbaric gods. Intricate murals and manuscripts. Polychrome pottery. Gold jewelry. And most appealing of all, the myriad figurines of these peoples that reveal a glimpse of a life long gone and at the same time a humanity that spans the ages.
Only now is the art-conscious public beginning to be fully aware of the historical importance, aesthetic achievements, and technical triumphs of the Aztecs, Maya, and other Indians of ancient Mexico. Now, in this book, all the complex beauty of their works is captured in a series of stunning photographs. Archives of museums, libraries, and other institutions from around the world were recruited in assembling them, and many pictures were made expressly for this volume. These have been reproduced in large size in color and in black and white, catching the full character of the art objects as well as their intricate details.
Only a reading of the text, however, will reveal how successful a melding of words and pictures has been achieved to produce a book that will provide both intellectual and aesthetic pleasure. Five outstanding authorities on pre-Columbian art have made contributions. Their names and credentials are listed on the back flap of this jacket. Jointly they present a comprehensive view of the extraordinary creations of the ancient Indians, their own enthusiasm echoing the vitality of the works they describe. The book concludes with appendices of maps, chronological charts, schemata of cultural periods and their accomplishments, and architectural drawings of the main monuments and building complexes.
Prehispanic Mexican Art is at once engrossing, authoritative, and, especially important, a delight to the eye. For the devotees of pre-Columbian art it will be a source of lasting pleasure, for those who yet have the joy of discovery it is destined to be a revelation. Vissza