Although his early work could be viewed as quite radical, as Professor of Sculpture at the Royal Academy he became closely linked with the establishment, and towards the end of his life upheld essentially conventional views on the role and function of art.".
This title was first published 2003. In the twentieth century, Britain was rich in artistic achievement, especially in sculpture. Just some of those working in this field were Jacob Epstein, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Anthony Caro, Richard Long, Mona Hatoum and Anish Kapoor. The work of these and other known and less well-known artists has an astonishing variety and expressive power, a range and strength that has placed Britain at the hub of the artistic world. Alan Windsor has compiled a concise biographical dictionary of sculpture in Britain in book form. Richly informative and easy-to-use, this guide is an art-lover's and expert's essential reference. Written by scholars, the entries are cross-referenced and each concise biographical outline provides the relevant facts about the artist's life, a brief characterization of the artist's work, and, where appropriate, major bibliographical references.
This book examines the sculptures created during the Early Dynastic period (2900-2350 BC) of Sumer, a region corresponding to present-day southern Iraq. Featured almost exclusively in temple complexes, some 550 Early Dynastic stone statues of human figures carved in an abstract style have survived. Chronicling the intellectual history of ancient Near Eastern art history and archaeology at the intersection of sculpture and aesthetics, this book argues that the early modern reception of Sumer still influences ideas about these sculptures. Engaging also with the archaeology of the Early Dynastic temple, the book ultimately considers what a stone statue of a human figure has signified, both in modern times and in antiquity.
"A graduate of Leon Underwood's Brook Green School of Art in London, Gertrude Hermes (1901-83) trained as a painter and sculptor. Hermes and her husband, Blair Hughes-Stanton, who she met at Brook Green, went on to become leading lights in the early twentieth-century's wood-engraving revival. Although their marriage was short-lived, their exuberant visual inventions for Bunyan;s 'The Pilgrim's Progress' and T.E. Lawrence's 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' Brought them critical acclaim. Much has been written about Hermes' career as a wood engraver. In contrast, her contribution as a sculptor has been somewhat eclipsed--until now. 'The Sculpture of Gertrude Hermes' presents for the first time a full analysis of the artist's entire sculptural oeuvre. Along with a comprehensive catalogue of Hermes' sculpture, Jane Hill provides a full account of the artist's life in the context of her career as a sculptor. What results is a picture of a pioneering spirit who created busts and heads, functional designs, decorative work and reliefs that are dynamic and unpredictable. Featuring over 140 images, 'The Sculpture of Gertrude Hermes' is a groundbreaking study of an artist so long associated with one art form. This book redresses the imbalance and creates a new and fresh perspective on an important female artist of the twentieth century."--Publisher's website.