Famous Works of Art―And How They Got That Way

John Nici is an extraordinary teacher, and this book shows his range of knowledge and rhetorical talent. Famous Works of Art provides a substantial, rigorous understanding of essential artworks in their historical context and their later reception throughout the centuries. The writing is lucid and engaging. An informative, recommended read that will be appreciated by the layman, the connoisseur, and anyone in between.

Excellent book. Very entertaining and interesting. It fills in some of the long histories of some of these works. It really makes you think about the changing views of art by different cultures in different time periods.

Great as far as educational, but most of the art was in black and white.. I didn’t make this all and will be returning the book.

Mr. Nici is a master in the truest sense of the word. An erudite and keenly perceptive educator who cares deeply about his students, Mr. Nici's clear, precise teaching style is crucial to comprehending the material. Thankfully this is once again on full display in this gem of a book.He clearly knew his pupils better than we knew ourselves. Not only did we learn Art History from Mr. Nici, he also taught us English Literature and World Literature thus opening our eyes and informing our minds and ultimately making us better versions of ourselves. We are forever in his debt in that he allowed us to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the written word and of art through him. Readers of this book will experience the same.Whether he writes and teaches about Botticelli or Dante, Turner or Hardy, Manet or Voltaire, he does so with wit, magnetism and an inimitable ability to bring out the desire in his readers (and students) to learn from him and to continue to journey down the path he has so meticulously set them on. His knowledge knows no bounds and this book is outright evidence of it.The quote regarding Raphael on p. 117 could just as easily be applied to Mr. Nici's classroom and to this book. When he writes (and teaches) he makes it "seem so effortless that one does not usually connect them with the ideas of hard and relentless work ... In fact their apparent simplicity is the fruit of deep thought, careful planning and immense artistic wisdom." In Famous Works of Art, Mr. Nici showcases these talents of his brilliantly.Plain and simple. No further explanation needed.

John Nici's FAMOUS WORKS OF ART - AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY takes an enormously entertaining look at the back story of 20 art masterpieces. He examines how they came to be, their initial reception, how they grew to be so renowned and if they deserved their exalted status. A 2015 Rowman & Littlefield release, Nici's book is a fascinating examination of artwork over the centuries.Nici casts a wide net in his book, examining such pieces as Van Gogh's STARRY NIGHT, Raphael's SISTINE MADONNA, Rodin's THE THINKER, da Vinci's MONA LISA, Wood's AMERICAN GOTHIC, Leutze's WASHINGTON CROSSSING THE DELAWARE, Botticelli's BIRTH OF VENUS and Munch's THE SCREAM along with the Great Sphinx, the Parthenon Sculptures, King Tut's Tomb and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Each masterpiece rates its own chapter, which provides a well-illustrated, in-depth summary of the 'life and times' of each artwork in question.Since my knowledge of art is uneven at best, I found FAMOUS WORKS OF ART - AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY a fascinating and informative survey of some well-known artworks...and a great read to boot. Recommended.

I love this book! It provides you with the backstory of many of the most famous works of art, like king tut's tomb!What's great about this book is that you can pick it up, find a work of art you are curious about and learn about the, often comical, history of the world's most famous art. In fact many friends have come over, seen the book, and done just that! You don't need to know anything about art history to enjoy this book. John Nici's writing is full of facts and details, and writes in an entertaining and enjoyable style.Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in art, and even as a book to have around the house for guests to pick up.

Excellent book, very enjoyable. Full of fascinating information, historical perspective, and lots of behind-the-scenes stories.

The cover was dirty when it arrived. The book itself is good, a little disappointed that the pictures are not in colour.