“A love letter to Italy expressed through fashion, craft, tradition, festivities, camaraderie, and sense of la dolce vita.” — Forbes
“… lovers of fashion will discover a world full of creative artistry and talented workmanship.” —The Hollywood Times
“This isn’t just any book. It’s an invitation, perhaps the only one, to experience the magic of Dolce&Gabbana up close.” — NL Magazine
Dolce&Gabbana’s Alta Moda shows are the epicenter of Italian fashion. The luxury lifestyle brand began its annual grand flourishes in 2012 and has since made a custom of staging the last word in Italian elegance with shows unlike any other, each lasting an entire weekend at an exclusive, invitation-only location.
Behind the scenes of these unique events, the preparations are meticulous, with designers, models, crew members, directors and makeup artists, all adding their finishing touches before the first silhouette is cast out on the runway. Matt Lever is one of only a handful of photographers ever invited to the shows. Covering almost every show since their inception, his images of the backstage commotion take us on a visual journey through Dolce&Gabbana’s intimate inner workings.
Lavishly illustrated, La Dolce Vita is a sublime coffee-table volume, perfect for fans and followers of high fashion and a compelling work of art for anyone with in an interest in the sculpting of the most lauded pageants in the fashion calendar.
James VI & I, the only child of Mary, Queen of Scots, has often been overshadowed by the dramatic lives of his mother and son, Charles I. This book seeks to redress the balance by centering the first monarch to reign over both Scotland and England and uncovering the artistic treasures created during his extraordinary reign.
The cultural riches of James’s court are showcased, revealing his diverse roles as ruler, scholar, politician, father and patron of the arts. His court’s passion for jewelry and fine clothes is illustrated in the vivid portraits and miniatures by John de Critz and Nicholas Hilliard – just two of many artists and craftspeople who thrived in its artistic and intellectual climate.
Five richly illustrated chapters demonstrate James’s impact on early modern Britain, while reconsidering the reputation of a king traditionally presented as preferring hunting and drinking to the duties of daily governance. Packed with exquisite art works and sumptuous objects, this book brings James’s court vividly to life.
Faneuil Hall is fine and the duck boats are just dandy, but if you want to go beyond the Boston of brochures and get to the heart of this mysterious, charming old metropolis, you have to dig deep and be willing to get a little weird. 111 Places in Boston That You Must Not Miss is a guidebook with a twist: one that takes you far off the beaten path – and the Freedom Trail – to explore a side of the city that’s offbeat, unexpected, and completely fascinating for visitors and locals alike.
Whether you want to pay your respects at the memorial for a fictional character, sneak behind a vending machine to go shopping for sneakers, sip cocktails where hardened criminals sat behind bars, or hang out with some life-sized puppets, you can do it all here… and before dinnertime, to boot. Throw on your Red Sox cap, hop on the T, and uncover some secrets along the way.
Grace is a poetic and visually stunning collaboration between Scott and Grace, a couple whose intertwined lives and creative partnership transcend traditional artistic roles. This evocative photographic series challenges conventions of gender, aging, and representation, presenting Grace not as a passive subject but as an empowered figure navigating dreamlike landscapes. She moves between domestic spaces and the untamed wilderness, embodying mythological and symbolic roles—at once ethereal and powerful, present and elusive. Working with large-format cameras, Scott and Grace engage in a slow, intentional creative process, crafting images that blur the boundaries between reality, imagination, and the natural world. Their work offers viewers an invitation to step beyond societal norms and experience an alternate realm of freedom and transformation. Grace is both an artistic dialog and a meditation on identity, nature, and the unknowable forces that shape our perceptions.
Discover Hastings and Rye, the heart of 1066 Country, where history, charm, and the sea collide. Hastings, an ancient fishing mecca still home to Europe’s largest beach-launched fleet, has long carved its own path along the Channel coast – from the castle-capped Old Town to the vibrant, artistic streets of St Leonards. Walk where William the Conqueror landed, and explore the nearby town of Battle, where England’s most famous clash reshaped a nation.
Beyond Hastings, this region brims with contrasting delights: the medieval jewel of Rye, one of England’s loveliest towns, quirky Dungeness with its shingle expanse, Bexhill’s understated charm, and timeless back-country villages.
From sunken forests older than the Pyramids to Roman relics, forgotten castles, wartime memories, eccentric locals, and modern creatives, the stories here span millennia. Rich, evocative, and endlessly surprising, this guide invites you to explore the landscapes, history, and culture that make Hastings and Rye utterly unforgettable. Dive in and experience it all.
England’s first capital, largest cathedral, and oldest college: Winchester is a city where ancient walls murmur stories of proud warriors and Wintonian pioneers, of brutal crimes and glorious successes.
Whether you’ve called Winchester home for years, recently moved here, or are just visiting for a short time, these 111 places will captivate, enchant, and amaze you. Try the sparkling wine which rivals champagne or the renowned striped ice cream and visit Europe’s first wasabi grower. Feel a shiver in the Red Room, cross the bridge that predicts the weather and find the garden built by a spy. Amble where Russel Crowe rode and the real Countess of Downton Abbey resides. Defend the city against a Viking invasion and meet the policeman who solved the first-ever train murder.
Amid it all, you’ll be immersed in Winchester’s stunning architecture, lively atmosphere, and warm energy – a city no longer ruling a kingdom, yet still brimming with power, scandal, secrets, and life.
Bath is a city of contrasts. Legend has it that its hot springs were discovered by pigs cured of leprosy after wallowing in warm mud. Beyond the world-famous Georgian crescents and Roman ruins lies a small city with an unexpected past: once home to giant industrial cranes shipped worldwide, the birthplace of Plasticine, and a place whose history narrowly escaped destruction by over-zealous planners. Its beauty and ancient origins even made it a bombing target during the Second World War. Most of the quirky corners featured in this book are within easy walking distance. But Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage status extends beyond hot springs, Roman archaeology and Georgian architecture to include its dramatic natural setting, so be prepared for the occasional uphill walk. Along the way you’ll discover burial grounds and bollards, a slippery lane and a sentry box. Why was England’s first king crowned here? Where are traces of historic floods? Who built a treasure-filled tower to escape dull company – and why is one red postbox grey?
Stories of Home is an exploration of the idea of living and how Hacin—the award-winning architecture, interiors, and visual identity firm based in Boston—creates spaces that foster a true sense of belonging and connection.
This expressive and evocative publication presents a curated selection of Hacin’s projects and explores the emotional and conceptual threads of each residence, highlighting what’s most important to the people who live there. Together, these homes tell a larger story of life, and reveal how every aspect of a design, down to the finest detail, can embody memory and meaning. Interwoven throughout are narratives that reflect on Hacin’s commitment to concept-driven design, skilled craftsmanship, community, and the historic character of Boston’s neighborhoods—the setting of much of Hacin’s work.
Richly illustrated and beautifully presented, Stories of Home reflects on Hacin’s decades-long private residential practice and the firm’s narrative approach to design and place-making for contemporary residences in Boston and across the United States.
Faneuil Hall is fine and the duck boats are just dandy, but if you want to go beyond the Boston of brochures and get to the heart of this mysterious, charming old metropolis, you have to dig deep and be willing to get a little weird. 111 Places in Boston That You Must Not Miss is a guidebook with a twist: one that takes you far off the beaten path – and the Freedom Trail – to explore a side of the city that’s offbeat, unexpected, and completely fascinating for visitors and locals alike.
Whether you want to pay your respects at the memorial for a fictional character, sneak behind a vending machine to go shopping for sneakers, sip cocktails where hardened criminals sat behind bars, or hang out with some life-sized puppets, you can do it all here… and before dinnertime, to boot. Throw on your Red Sox cap, hop on the T, and uncover some secrets along the way.
A multitude of colorful and naïve biblical and other religious pottery figures found their way into 19th century Victorian homes in Britain. They were bought by tradesmen, shop-keepers, clerks, teachers and the more skilled working class people. This book tells the story of these Staffordshire pottery figures, which sold in their thousands to stand on the mantelpieces of Christian families, both Protestant and Catholic.
Three chapters provide a social history context: the religious background, an assessment of who purchased the figures, the Victorian home and how it was furnished. The final four chapters review the pottery figures themselves, which are based on the Old Testament, the New Testament, relevant religious themes and portraits of preachers. A catalogue of well over 200 figures in full color with an assessment of their dating and rarity completes the book.
This is the first comprehensive record of Victorian religious figures placed in the context of their times.
This scholarly catalogue provides a rich survey of the outstanding English drawings and watercolors in the National Gallery of Scotland’s collection. It ranges from the art of the Stuart court to the late Victorian period – from Isaac Oliver to Lord Leighton. Highlights include important works by artists such as William Blake, John Sell Cotman, John Robert Cozens, John Flaxman, Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Girtin, Edward Lear, John Frederick Lewis, Paul Sandby and J.M.W. Turner. Key works are illustrated in colour and the text provides an authoritative commentary on issues such as their function, history, date and technique. The catalogue will be a valuable resource for students, art historians, collectors, dealers, picture researchers and all serious enthusiasts for British art.
When Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) painted Vision After the Sermon in the summer of 1888 he was a mature artist who had travelled, exhibited and worked in a variety of media. Today the painting is considered a masterpiece, helping to assure Gauguin’s fame the world over. Few paintings have given rise to more art historical analysis and critique, more speculation, admiration or recrimination. Accompanying the innovative painting-in-focus exhibition, ‘Gauguin’s Vision’, this book illuminates one of the most intriguing and famous images in the history of western art. This re-examination of the painting, Vision After the Sermon: Jacob Wrestling with the Angel brings together works by Gauguin, his mentors such as Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas, and younger contemporaries including Emile Bernard, Paul Sérusier, Maurice Denis and Henri van de Velde. It explores the biographical, pictorial and cultural circumstances that enabled Gauguin to make such a radical statement in paint in 1888. This beautifully illustrated book is a fascinating introduction to rhis iconic image.
J.M.W. Turner 1775-1851 was perhaps the most prolific and innovative of all British artists. His outstanding watercolors in the Scottish National Gallery are one of the most popular features of its collection. Bequeathed to the Gallery in 1899 by the distinguished collector Henry Vaughan, they have been exhibited, as he requested, every January for over 100 years. Renowned for their excellent state of preservation, they provide a remarkable overview of many of the most important aspects of Turner’s career.
This richly illustrated book provides a commentary on the watercolors, addressing questions of technique and function, as well as considering some of the numerous contacts Turner had with other artists, collectors and dealers. The introduction concentrates on Henry Vaughan, one of the greatest enthusiasts for British art in the late nineteenth century, whose diverse collections have not previously been fully appreciated.
After finishing her training in painting, ceramics and sculpting, Moniek Vanden Berghe turned her talents to floral art, achieving great success. One of her main specialities is bridal work, in a contemporary-modern style. She has an eye for detail and designs bridal bouquets, floral purses, corsages, hair clasps and tiara’s with great accuracy. She also decorates the bridal table, the cars, the church and the bridesmaids in an elegant and harmonious way. This book is overflowing with spontanaeity and vision; a source of inspiration for florists and brides-to-be alike, Flowers in Love 3 is an excellent addition to the author’s two other bestsellers on the theme of love and marriage.
“Moniek is a uniquely creative talent. Her intriguing combination of materials as well as her technical creativity shows that she is a true visionary in floral design.”Diane MomnomotoAlso Available:Flowers in Love ISBN: 9789058561619 £22.50Flowers in Love 2 ISBN: 9789058562241 £22.50
As the modern world changes and evolves, so does the modern lifestyle. Our levels of home comfort, desires, and overall life satisfactions are being defined in new ways, often contrasting with notions of the ‘traditional’ house design. We aim to live simpler lives yet somehow manage to have more material possessions than before; and we opt to reside in open-plan homes that provide a sense of freedom. All too often traditionally designed homes are no longer able to satisfy our contemporary living needs. The restoration of living spaces is usually to restore existing buildings that may have become impractical over time, if not outdated. These days, the challenge is how to adapt and transform these existing buildings to modern standards, all the while maintaining what may still be useful, special features or design characteristics, or what we like most about the space. This book showcases a selection of examples of how people from around the world have ingeniously refurbished an old house to meet their needs for a modern lifestyle. With vivid descriptions, detailed drawings and rich photography (including befores and afters), this book provides designers and architects, as well as owner-builders of old houses several excellent strategies on how to approach their restoration, and how to convey a modern life concept, revitalizing, and refreshing the houses for the next generation.
“It amazes me that after all these years and countless books, the scope of subject matter on The Beatles is so amazingly large that writers always find a new angle. This book does that in a very unique and clever way. It’s a must for every Beatles fan.” – Billy J. Kramer
“…It’s a magical mystery tour through the band’s life and times.” —Yahoo Entertainment The It-List
“Part biography and part map to the stars, The Beatles: Fab Four Cities is your “Ticket to Ride” and walk in the footsteps of John, Paul, George and Ringo. It’s the next best thing to actually driving their car…”—Nina Violi, Capitol File. and Gotham magazine
“While the book can be used as a handy tour guide filled with addresses, maps and photos, it also makes for great reading.” —Steve Matteo, The Vinyl District
“But now comes a “magic carpet volume” for Beatles fans that blends travel guide with historical reference in an expanded study of The Beatles’ homes, schools, pubs, venues, and important historic sites…” —Jude Southerland Kessler, Culture Sonar
John Lennon said: “We were born in Liverpool, but we grew up in Hamburg.”
To paraphrase Lennon, we could say that: “The Beatles were born in Liverpool, grew up in Hamburg, reached maturity in London, and immortality in New York.”
Four cities. Four stars. The Fab Four – the Beatles – are revered the world over, but it is in these urban centres that their legacy shines brightest. Liverpool: where the band graduated from church halls, leaving their initial line-up as ‘The Quarrymen’ far behind. Hamburg: where their raucous stage act was honed; where arrests earned them a more notorious celebrity reputation, but they became a true emblem of rock ‘n’ roll. London: where The Beatles produced Sgt Pepper, and home to the iconic album cover for Abbey Road. And New York: the city that became John Lennon’s home, where their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show announced them to 73 million Americans.
The Beatles: Fab Four Cities invites the reader on a cosmopolitan trek across continents, tracing the Beatles’ rise to fame from one metropolis to the next. Flush with timelines, stories, trivia, the numerous links and connections between the cities and both pop cultural and local history, this is a travel guide like no other.
Saint Benedict the Moor, or Binidittu as the Sicilians fondly rechristened him, was an Afro-Sicilian hermit friar, the son of African slaves born in Sicily in the 16th century. Canonized in 1807, he was the Catholic Church’s first Black saint and was made Patron Saint of Palermo. These photographs address the lives of African migrants in the Mediterranean today through the historical figure of Binidittu. This project retraces his improbable life, explores the historical sites of his hagiography, the worship of relics, and the religious and secular practices devoted to him in Sicily and elsewhere in the Mediterranean. This book is part of Lo Calzo’s long-term photographic project, Cham, about the living memories of colonial slavery and anti-slavery struggles.
“Binidittu emerges in this work as an allegory of our time: an encounter between the Mare Nostrum and the world, between oblivion and memory, between racism made commonplace and our shared humanity, between the Sicilian people’s aspirations and African migrants’ hopes of freedom and dignity as they drift towards Europe’s shores.” Nicola lo Calzo
Text in English and Italian.
From the late 15th to the mid-16th century, an impressive corpus of architecture, sculpture, and painting was created to embellish monastic sites affiliated with the Benedictine Cassinese Congregation of Italy. A religious order of humanistically trained monks, the Cassinese engaged with the most eminent artists and architects of the early modern period, supporting the production of imagery and architecture that was often highly experimental in nature: from Raphael’s Sistine Madonna in Piacenza to Andrea Riccio’s Moses/Zeus Ammon, from Andrea Palladio’s church of San Giorgio Maggiore (Venice) to the superbly crafted choirstalls of San Severino and Sossio (Naples).
Applying a network framework to the congregation’s infrastructure of monasteries makes clear that the circulation of sophisticated Renaissance art and architecture constituted only a segment of the monks’ investment in the arts. Monks also served as custodians of an antique monumental heritage and popular votive images, assuring the survival of ancient buildings and artifacts of limited aesthetic value that supplied opportunities for early modern masters to confront an array of artworks for the reinvention of reformed Christian art and architecture.
Text in English, Italian and German.
After having finished training in painting, ceramics and sculpture, Moniek Vanden Berghe changed her focus to floral art. Her style is contemporary-modern. One of her main specialities is bridal work. With an eye for stunning detail, she designs, with great accuracy, bridal bouquets, floral purses, corsages, hair claps and tiaras… She also decorates the bridal table, the cars, the church and the bridesmaids in an elegant and harmonious way. This book offers ‘bridal ideas’ to florists and is an inspiration for anyone who’s soon to be married and wants to have a flourishing party. This is an excellent addition to Moniek’s first bestseller on the theme of love and marriage.
Text in English and Dutch.
Also available:Flowers in Love ISBN 9789058561619 $45.00Wedding Emotions ISBN 9789058561756 $85.00Brides in Bloom ISBN 9789058561190 $85.00
Chasing records through Europe: This book takes you to 111 truly unique and record-setting places in Europe. Dress warmly for the coldest music festival, where instruments are made of ice. Ride on the fastest roller coaster. And come with us to the highest church tower – it’s not in Rome or Cologne, but in … Well, do you know?
This book is your guide to the successful “Europe to the Maxx” series from the lifestyle and culture magazine “Euromaxx” by Deutsche Welle. All videos from the series can be called up using the QR codes in the book. For travel enthusiasts, fans of Europe, and everyone who likes to show off their knowledge of the unusual at parties. Record-breaking good!
For Thomas Putze, performance is a snapshot of a moment, a play on possibilities, and at the same time a well-planned and sophisticated act to captivate the onlooker. Yet above all, it is thinking, drawing, sculpting, and realizing with and through the body, which he treats just as relentlessly as all the other materials in his works. He swings through trees, occupies church facades, and submerges himself in mud; frequently without clothing or scantily wrapped in plastic sheeting, he gauges and challenges the physical and thus social space between us bystanders. Thomas Putze typifies the risk of being human, with all its failings and plenty of humor. He not only holds us to account but rather invites us to do this ourselves: to partake in art and to reflect on the performance we call life.
Text in English and German.