How to Understand a Painting: Decoding Symbols in Art

THE SUN AND THE MOON. 14 Robert Campin Virgin in glory with a donor, Saint Peter and Saint Augustine . 14 Nicolas Poussin Diana and Endymion . 20 Vincent Van Gogh The Sower . 24 Winslow Homer Summer Night . 26 Themes . 28 THE CLOUD. 30 Lorenzo Lotto The Trinity . 30 Nicolas Poussin Landscape with Orion . 36 Caspar David Friedrich Walker contemplating a sea of clouds . 40 Themes . 44 THE TREE . 46 Jan Breughel the Younger Heaven . 46 Paul Cezanne Large Pine and Red Earth . 50 Baselitz Untitled (Woodcutter) . 54 Themes . 56 THE FLOWER . 58 Martin Schongauer The Virgin of the Roses . 58 Charles de la Fosse Clytia transformed into Sunflower . 62 Edgar Degas Woman leaning by a vase of flowers . 66 Georgia O'Keeffe Poppy . 70 Themes . 72 THE FRUIT . 74 Hans Holbein the Younger Adam and Eve . 74 Jan Davidsz de Heem A Dessert . 78 Paul Cezanne Apples and Oranges . 82 Themes . 84 THE SHELL . 86 Karel Dujardin Allegory . 86 Jean-Francois de Troye The Oyster Lunch . 92 Paul Cezanne The Black Clock . 94 Themes . 96 THE FISH . 98 Jan Fyt and Erasme Quellin Jesus at the house of Martha and Mary . 98 Henri Matisse Interior with goldfish bowl . 102 Paul Klee The Golden Fish . 104 Themes . 106 THE DOG AND THE CAT . 108 Gerard David The Judgement of Cambyses . 108 Francisco de Goya The Dog . 114 Edouard Manet Olympia . 118 Pierre Bonnard A Bourgeois Afternoon or The Terrasse Family . 122 Themes . 124 THE HORSE . 126 Raphael Saint George and the Dragon . 126 Paul Gauguin Horsemen on the Beach . 130 Wassily Kandinsky Improvisation III . 132 Themes . 136 THE BIRD . 138 Jusepe de Ribera The Trinity . 138 Claude Monet The Magpie . 146 Georges Braque A tire-d'aile . 146 Themes . 148 THE BOOK . 156 Pedro Espalargucs The Annunciation . 156 Henri Fantin-Latour La Lecture . 160 Anselm Kiefer The Book . 162 Themes . 166 THE CROSS . 168 Pisanello The Vision of Saint Eustace . 168 Lucas Cranach the Elder Cardinal

Francoise Barbe-Gall studied history of art at the Sorbonne and also at the Ecole du Louvre, where she now teaches. She also directs an association called CORETA (Comment Regarder un Tableau), for whom she gives many lectures. She is regularly called upon to participate in management workshops, where her experience of analysing images in relation to publicity and marketing is called upon. Editions de l'Agenda de L'Empresa have published a collection of her articles, and she is the author of several articles on the work of the sculptor Tom Carr. She is the author of How to Talk to Children about Art and How to Understand a Painting, both published in English by Frances Lincoln.

I couldn't put it down. The lyrical analysis of each painting is as beautiful as the art itself and it's an inspiring, lovely book. Bookseller Whether you are looking to expand your artistic vocabulary or just better understand a favourite artwork, there's plenty to enjoy here. Artists & Illustrators