{"product_id":"great-art-explained-the-stories-behind-the-worlds-greatest-masterpieces-9780500025956","title":"Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"James Payne's YouTube Channel \"Great Art Explained\" gained a huge and appreciative worldwide audience. This beautifully put-together book is simply the best introduction to the lifelong pleasure and rewards of looking at pictures since Gombrich. An instant classic.\" -- Stephen Fry\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on the popular and enormously successful YouTube channel of the same name, \u003cem\u003eGreat Art Explained\u003c\/em\u003e unveils the fascinating stories behind some of the world's most iconic paintings and sculptures, proving that there's more to art than just watching paint dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArt can be thrilling, and resonate on a deep personal level. It is how you view the work, place it in context and understand its history that makes an artwork truly come alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA fresh approach to a classic subject, James Payne's no-nonsense analysis sheds new light on 30 masterpieces from around the globe and reveals what makes them truly timeless works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach chapter delves into not only the art itself but also the artist's life, as well as the work's place in their wider oeuvre; in other words, what makes it \"great.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom Hilma af Klint's occult altarpieces to Claude Monet's \u003cem\u003eWater Lilies\u003c\/em\u003e, Botticelli's \u003cem\u003eThe Birth of Venus\u003c\/em\u003e to Georgia O'Keeffe's \u003cem\u003eJimson Weed\u003c\/em\u003e, each artwork is explored with clarity and passion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this book promises to deepen your appreciation and enrich your understanding of some of the world's greatest treasures.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Thames \u0026amp; Hudson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/14\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780500025956\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320","brand":"James Payne","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51581088039093,"sku":"9780500025956","price":33.96,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_13e27046-4a13-43c2-8767-402c2588f94b.jpg?v=1755619622","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/great-art-explained-the-stories-behind-the-worlds-greatest-masterpieces-9780500025956","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}