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The Enigmatic Allure of the Alberto Giacometti Chandelier: A Deep Dive into Art, Design, and Myth
Introduction:
Step into a world where art and illumination intertwine, a world where the surrealist genius of Alberto Giacometti casts a mesmerizing glow. This blog post delves into the captivating realm of the "Alberto Giacometti chandelier," a term that, while not referencing a specific, officially designed piece by the artist, evokes the spirit and aesthetic of his iconic, elongated figures. We'll explore the ways Giacometti's artistic vision translates into lighting design, examine pieces inspired by his work, discuss the market for such unique lighting fixtures, and uncover the mystique surrounding the elusive "Giacometti chandelier." Prepare to be illuminated by the unique blend of art, design, and the enduring legacy of a master sculptor.
I. Deconstructing the "Alberto Giacometti Chandelier": Myth vs. Reality
The term "Alberto Giacometti chandelier" doesn't point to a single, definitive creation by the artist himself. Giacometti primarily worked in sculpture and painting, with lighting design not forming a significant part of his oeuvre. However, his distinctive style—characterized by elongated forms, slender proportions, and a sense of existential fragility—has profoundly influenced contemporary designers and artists. Many modern lighting fixtures draw inspiration from Giacometti's aesthetic, resulting in pieces that capture the essence of his work while remaining distinct interpretations. Understanding this distinction is key to appreciating the "Giacometti chandelier" phenomenon. This isn't about finding an original piece designed by the artist; it's about recognizing the powerful impact his art has on lighting design.
II. The Giacometti Aesthetic in Lighting Design: Key Characteristics
Several key characteristics of Giacometti's sculptural work translate beautifully into lighting design:
Elongated Forms: The most striking feature. Chandeliers inspired by Giacometti often feature long, slender arms, rods, or pendants that evoke the attenuated figures in his sculptures. These elongated lines create a sense of verticality and dynamism.
Fragility and Vulnerability: Giacometti’s figures often possess a delicate, almost fragile quality. Lighting designs inspired by this aspect might employ thin materials, delicate metalwork, or subtle shading to capture this sense of ethereal vulnerability.
Existentialism and Space: Giacometti's art often grapples with themes of existence, loneliness, and the vastness of space. Chandeliers inspired by his work might utilize negative space effectively, emphasizing the relationship between the light source and the surrounding environment.
Minimalism and Simplicity: While intricate in their execution, many of Giacometti's works maintain a core of minimalism. This translates into lighting designs that might avoid excessive ornamentation, instead focusing on clean lines and a sense of understated elegance.
Materiality and Texture: Giacometti experimented with various materials. Chandeliers inspired by him might explore different textures and finishes, from polished bronze to brushed steel, to create a nuanced visual experience.
III. Finding and Appreciating Giacometti-Inspired Chandeliers
The market for lighting inspired by Giacometti's art is diverse, encompassing both high-end bespoke designs and more affordable interpretations. Finding a piece that resonates with your personal taste and budget requires research and discernment. Look for pieces that exhibit the key characteristics discussed above. High-quality examples will often be crafted from premium materials and demonstrate exceptional attention to detail. Exploring online marketplaces, design showrooms, and art galleries specializing in contemporary lighting can yield promising results.
IV. The Value and Investment Potential of Giacometti-Inspired Lighting
While the value of a Giacometti-inspired chandelier varies greatly depending on the designer, materials, and craftsmanship, unique and highly crafted pieces can appreciate over time. The enduring appeal of Giacometti’s art ensures that well-executed designs inspired by his work hold their value in the art and design market. However, it's crucial to purchase from reputable sources to ensure authenticity and quality. Conduct thorough research before making a significant investment.
V. Conclusion: Illuminating the Legacy
The elusive "Alberto Giacometti chandelier" stands as a testament to the enduring power of artistic influence. While not a literal creation of the artist, it represents a compelling fusion of art and design, reflecting the unique aesthetic and existential themes found in Giacometti's celebrated sculptures. Whether you seek a statement piece for your home or an investment in contemporary art, understanding the nuances of this style will empower you to appreciate and acquire a lighting fixture that embodies the captivating spirit of this iconic artist.
Article Outline:
Name: Illuminating Giacometti: A Guide to Chandeliers Inspired by the Master Sculptor
Outline:
Introduction: Hook, overview of the blog post's content.
Chapter 1: Debunking the myth of a "true" Giacometti chandelier, establishing the connection between his art and lighting design.
Chapter 2: Analyzing the key characteristics of Giacometti's style that translate into lighting design (elongated forms, fragility, existentialism, minimalism, materiality).
Chapter 3: Practical advice on finding and purchasing Giacometti-inspired chandeliers: where to look, what to consider.
Chapter 4: Discussing the value and investment potential of such lighting fixtures.
Conclusion: Summarizing the enduring legacy of Giacometti's influence on lighting design.
(The content above fulfills the outline.)
FAQs:
1. Did Alberto Giacometti design chandeliers? No, Giacometti is not known for designing lighting fixtures. The term "Alberto Giacometti chandelier" refers to lighting designs inspired by his artistic style.
2. Where can I find Giacometti-inspired chandeliers? Online marketplaces like 1stDibs, auction sites, high-end design showrooms, and art galleries specializing in contemporary lighting are good places to start.
3. What materials are typically used in Giacometti-inspired chandeliers? Common materials include bronze, steel, glass, and sometimes even more unconventional materials to capture the texture and essence of his work.
4. How much do Giacometti-inspired chandeliers cost? Prices vary significantly depending on the designer, materials, size, and craftsmanship. Expect a wide range, from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.
5. Are Giacometti-inspired chandeliers a good investment? High-quality, unique pieces from reputable designers can appreciate in value, but thorough research is essential before making a significant investment.
6. What defines the "Giacometti aesthetic" in a chandelier? Key characteristics include elongated forms, a sense of fragility, use of negative space, minimalism, and attention to materiality and texture.
7. Can I commission a custom Giacometti-inspired chandelier? Yes, many lighting designers offer custom commissions. This allows for complete personalization and control over design details.
8. How do I care for a Giacometti-inspired chandelier? Care instructions will vary depending on the materials used. Consult the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning and maintenance.
9. What are some notable designers who have created Giacometti-inspired lighting? Researching contemporary lighting designers and searching for pieces described as "minimalist," "sculptural," or "Art Deco-influenced" will help you discover similar styles. Specific designer names would require further research beyond the scope of this general article.
Related Articles:
1. The Surrealist Legacy of Alberto Giacometti: An exploration of the artist's life and major works.
2. Minimalist Lighting Design: A Guide to Modern Simplicity: Focuses on the broader context of minimalist lighting and design principles.
3. Investing in Contemporary Art: A Beginner's Guide: Explores the art market and provides advice for investing in contemporary art pieces.
4. Art Deco Lighting: A History of Elegance and Glamour: Connects Giacometti's style to a related historical movement.
5. Sculptural Lighting: Transforming Your Space with Artistic Illumination: Explores the broader trend of sculptural lighting design.
6. Top 10 Modern Chandeliers for the Discerning Homeowner: A list of contemporary chandeliers from various designers.
7. Bronze Lighting Fixtures: A Timeless Classic for Elegant Interiors: Focuses on a common material used in Giacometti-inspired lighting.
8. The Art of Negative Space in Design: Explores a crucial design element found in Giacometti's work and its applications in lighting.
9. How to Choose the Right Chandelier for Your Living Space: A practical guide on chandelier selection.
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Alberto Giacometti neu gesehen Beat Stutzer, 2011 Taken by such celebrated photographers as May Ray, Henri Cartier Bresson, and Cecil Beaton, the photographs show Giacometti as a young artist bursting with energy during his first stay in Paris; at work at his legendary studios in Paris and his native Val Bregaglia in Switzerland; lighthearted in the company of his wife, Annette, or in discussion with friends; posing with his sculptures; and in silent dialogue with his models. The drawings are mainly sketches on pages from newspapers and magazines. The entire collection, along with the analyses and commentary presented here, greatly enriches our understanding of Alberto Giacometti as both an artist and a person. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Alberto Giacometti Timothy Mathews, 2013-11-28 Alberto Giacometti's attenuated figures of the human form are among the most significant artistic images of the twentieth century. Jean-Paul Sartre and Andre Breton are just two of the great thinkers whose thought has been nurtured by the graceful, harrowing work of Giacometti, which continues to resonate with artists, writers and audiences. Timothy Mathews explores fragility, trauma, space and relationality in Giacometti's art and writing and the capacity to relate that emerges. In doing so, he draws upon the novels of W.G. Sebald, Samuel Beckett and Cees Nooteboom and the theories of Maurice Blanchot and Bertolt Brecht; and recasts Giacometti's Le Chariot as Walter Benjamin's angel of history. This book invites readers on a voyage of discovery through Giacometti's deep concerns with memory, attachment and humanity. Both a critical study of Giacometti's work and an immersion in its affective power, it asks what encounters with Giacometti's pieces can tell us about our own time and our own ways of looking; and about the humility of relating to art. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: The Studio of Alberto Giacometti Alberto Giacometti, Véronique Wiesinger, Fondation Alberto et Annette Giacometti, 2007 This publication and the accompnaying exhibition echo Jean Genet's famous 1957 essay, L'Atelier d'Alberto Giaocometti. Both explore the various facets of the now famous studio on rue Hippolyte Maidron - laboratory, ritual place and major component of the artist's work. This studio where Giacometti, one of the 20th century's major artists, lived from 1926 to 1965, is probaby placed at the very core of the building, the presentation and the disemination of his work and his own image. This book is illustrated by many previously unseen archives. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Alberto Giacometti Alberto Giacometti, 2010 Space does not exist, the Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) wrote in 1949. It has to be created... Every sculpture made on the assumption that space exists is wrong, there is only the illusion of space. This fascinating statement serves as a conceptual underpinning for Hatje Cantz's new appraisal of the artist's mature work. Giacometti's emaciated sculptures have long been seen as symbols of a newly anxious, frail humanity. But more recently, attention has come to focus on the relevance of his work for contemporary considerations of space and time. Alberto Giacometti: The Origin of Space supplies a comprehensive overview of the later works of this lastingly influential artist, presenting 200 color images of sculptures, paintings and drawings. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Alberto Giacometti, Sculptor and Draftsman Alberto Giacometti, Louise Averill Svendsen, 1977 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Important American and Modern Prints and Illustrated Books Christie, Manson & Woods International Inc, 1990 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Claude Monet Ann Temkin, Nora Lawrence, 2009 including the destruction of two works in a fire in 1958 - and underscores the resonance of these paintings with the art and artists of the last half-century. --Book Jacket. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Live Beautiful Athena Calderone, 2020-03-03 The celebrated design expert and creator of EyeSwoon shares an inspiring look at how creatives arrange and decorate their homes. Beautiful design isn’t just pleasant to look at; it improves the quality of our lives. In Live Beautiful, EyeSwoon creator Athena Calderone taps into her international network of interior decorators, fashion designers, and tastemakers to reveal how carefully crafted interiors come together. She also opens the doors to two of her own residences. With each homeowner, Athena explores the spark of inspiration that started their design journey. She then breaks down the details of the rooms—like layered textures and patterns, collected pieces, and customized vignettes—and offers helpful tips on how to bring these elevated elements into your own space. Filled with gorgeous photography by Nicole Franzen, Live Beautiful is both a showpiece of exquisite design and a guide to creating a home that’s thoughtfully put together. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: John Craxton Ian Collins, 2021-06-22 Uplifting and engaging, this story recounts the life and career of a rebellious 20th-century British artist Born into a large, musical, and bohemian family in London, the British artist John Craxton (1922–2009) has been described as a Neo-Romantic, but he called himself a “kind of Arcadian”. His early art was influenced by Blake, Palmer, Miró, and Picasso. After achieving a dream of moving to Greece, his work evolved as a personal response to Byzantine mosaics, El Greco, and the art of Greek life. This book tells his adventurous story for the first time. At turns exciting, funny, and poignant, the saga is enlivened by Craxton’s ebullient pictures. Ian Collins expands our understanding of the artist greatly—including an in-depth exploration of the storied, complicated friendship between Craxton and Lucian Freud, drawing on letters and memories that Craxton wanted to remain private until after his death. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Left Bank Agnès Poirier, 2018-02-13 An incandescent group portrait of the midcentury artists and thinkers whose lives, loves, collaborations, and passions were forged against the wartime destruction and postwar rebirth of Paris In this fascinating tour of a celebrated city during one of its most trying, significant, and ultimately triumphant eras, Agnes Poirier unspools the stories of the poets, writers, painters, and philosophers whose lives collided to extraordinary effect between 1940 and 1950. She gives us the human drama behind some of the most celebrated works of the 20th century, from Richard Wright’s Native Son, Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, and James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room to Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Saul Bellow's Augie March, along with the origin stories of now legendary movements, from Existentialism to the Theatre of the Absurd, New Journalism, bebop, and French feminism. We follow Arthur Koestler and Norman Mailer as young men, peek inside Picasso’s studio, and trail the twists of Camus's Sartre's, and Beauvoir’s epic love stories. We witness the births and deaths of newspapers and literary journals and peer through keyholes to see the first kisses and last nights of many ill-advised bedfellows. At every turn, Poirier deftly hones in on the most compelling and colorful history, without undermining the crucial significance of the era. She brings to life the flawed, visionary Parisians who fell in love and out of it, who infuriated and inspired one another, all while reconfiguring the world's political, intellectual, and creative landscapes. With its balance of clear-eyed historical narrative and irresistible anecdotal charm, Left Bank transports readers to a Paris teeming with passion, drama, and life. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Giacometti Alberto Giacometti, Fondation Beyeler, 2009 Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) always saw himself at the center of a cosmos of events and people, a notion that characterized his examination of the relation between figure, time, and space, and in which the members of his family played an important role. Alberto's father, the painter Giovanni Giacometti, encouraged his son from an early age. His brother Diego was his assistant and model, and after Alberto's death, he became famous for his bronze furniture. Bruno, the youngest brother and a renowned architect; Annetta, his mother; Annette, Alberto's wife; and Silvio, the son of his sister Ottilia, who died in childbirth, were all indispensable models for him. Finally, although he was only a distant relative, Augusto Giacometti, whose abstract paintings continue to fascinate viewers to this day, was the other genius of the Giacometti family. This generously illustrated publication based on the latest developments in research, this publication is devoted to the great sculptor, painter, and draftsman Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) and his family. Focusing on Alberto's works, it traces the lives of the Giacomettis and provides a deeper understanding of the art produced by its most famous member. --Book Jacket. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: The Tate Gallery 1982-84, Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions Tate Gallery, 1986 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Works of Art on Paper Swann Galleries, 2000 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Living Well Carrie Donovan, 1981 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: The Girl from the Fiction Department Hilary Spurling, 2016-01-28 Absorbing and provocative, a biography of George Orwell's controversial second wife from the Whitbread Prize-winning author of Matisse the Master and Anthony Powell Just three months before his death, the author of Nineteen Eighty-Four took a new wife. Sonia Brownell was model for Julia in Orwell's most famous novel, she was fifteen years younger than her husband, and after his death she was hounded and pilloried as a manipulative gold-digger who would stop at nothing to keep control of the literary legacy. But the truth about Sonia was altogether different. Beautiful, intelligent and fiercely idealistic, she lived at the heart of London's literary and artistic scene before her marriage to Orwell changed her life for ever. Those who knew her - Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon, Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus - witnessed her great personal generosity. And yet, burdened with the almost impossible task of protecting Orwell's intellectual estate, Sonia's loyalty to her late husband brought her nothing but poverty and despair. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: The Tate Gallery Tate Gallery, 1982 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Alberto Giacometti Alberto Giacometti, 1967 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: The New York Times Magazine , 1981 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Lee and Me Ruth Appelhof, 2020 * Lee Krasner is one of the major women artists of the 20th century* This memoir is full of firsthand material based on interviews with Krasner and with her friends, fellow artists, gallerists, and curators* Often seen in her role as Pollock's companion and then widow, Krasner made important contributions to the development of American Abstract Expressionism Angry, outrageous, defiant, and courageous are some of the words that describe the American Abstract Expressionist artist Lee Krasner (1908-1984) - the subject of this very personal memoir inspired by Ruth Appelhof's 1974 summer with her in East Hampton, Long Island. Best remembered by many as Jackson Pollock's widow, she is regarded more by 'art-world insiders' as the producer of a major body of work that influenced the evolution of contemporary art - in particular, that made by women in the 20th and 21st centuries. As a scholar and a friend, Appelhof re-examines Krasner's contributions in light of the intellectual and emotional experiences that she so candidly shared with her in weeks of interviews. In addition, Appelhof explores Lee Krasner's relationships with others - friends, art-world luminaries, artists, and other 'summer sitters' allowed into her private sanctuary - through interviews. Those recollections will offer a window into the artist's intense and idiosyncratic personal life as well as into her contributions through the groundbreaking work she produced over the course of more than six decades. Published to accompany the Lee Krasner Retrospective at the Barbican Art Gallery, London, fromThursday 30 May-Sunday 1 September 2019, and at Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, from Thursday 10 October 2019-Sunday 12 January 2020, and at Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern, from Friday 7 February-Sunday 10 May 2020, and at the Guggenheim Bilbao, from Friday 29 May-Sunday 6 September 2020. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Surrealism and Painting André Breton, 2002 Long unavailable in English, Surrealism and Painting remains one of the masterworks of twentieth-century art criticism.--BOOK JACKET. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Jewelry Melanie Holcomb, Kim Benzel, James A. Doyle, Moira Gallagher, John Guy, Navina Najat Haidar, Hannah Korn, Soyoung Lee, Maia Nuku, Diana Craig Patch, Joanne Pillsbury, Courtney A. Stewart, Beth Carver Wees, 2018-11-02 p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Verdana} As an art form, jewelry is defined primarily through its connection to and interaction with the body—extending it, amplifying it, accentuating it, distorting it, concealing it, or transforming it. Addressing six different modes of the body—Adorned, Divine, Regal, Transcendent, Alluring, and Resplendent—this artfully designed catalogue illustrates how these various definitions of the body give meaning to the jewelry that adorns and enhances it. Essays on topics spanning a wide range of times and cultures establish how jewelry was used as a symbol of power, status, and identity, from earflares of warrior heroes in Pre-Colombian Peru to bowknot earrings designed by Yves Saint-Laurent. These most intimate works of art provide insight into the wearers, but also into the cultures that produced them. More than 200 jewels and ornaments, alongside paintings and sculptures of bejeweled bodies, demonstrate the social, political, and aesthetic role of jewelry from ancient times to the present. Gorgeous new illustrations of Bronze Age spirals, Egyptian broad collars, Hellenistic gold armbands, Japanese courtesan hair adornments, jewels from Mughal India, and many, many more explore the various facets of jewelry and its relationship to the human body over 5,000 years of world history. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Interior Design Master Class Carl Dellatore, 2016-10-11 With one hundred essays from one hundred interior designers, spanning stylistic genres from classic to modern, on subjects as varied as Collecting, White, Portals, and Layering, this book highlights the knowledge, experience, expertise, insight, and work of established design legends, as well as members of the new guard, spanning over four decades of work. Unique in the quality of its contributors, this book will be a landmark publication in the field, helpful and inspirational for the home decorator, as well as students of design and design professionals. Poised to become the essential book on design, Interior Design Master Class collects the expertise and knowledge of the best interior designers working today. Opening Interior Design Master Class is like sitting down to the best dinner party you’ve ever attended. A classic in the making, the book features one hundred essays by America’s top designers—from established design legends to members of the new guard—that explore in detail the process of designing a home, from the fundamentals to the finishing touches. Grouped by theme, the subjects range from practical considerations (Bunny Williams on Comfort, Etienne Coffinier and Ed Ku on Floor Plans) and details (Victoria Hagan on Light, Rose Tarlow on Books) to inspiration (Jeffrey Bilhuber on America and Charlotte Moss on Couture) and style (Kelly Wearstler on Glamour, Thomas O’Brien on Vintage Modern). Each piece is paired with images of the designer’s work to illustrate the principles being discussed, annotated with informative captions.Unique in the quality of its contributors, this is a book that readers will refer to again and again for advice and inspiration, an invaluable resource for practical tips and thought-provoking design. Select Contributors and their Topics: Vicente Wolf on Teachers; Barry Dixon on Relationships; Barbara Barry on Awareness; Amanda Nisbet on Intuition; Madeline Stuart on Trends; Suzanne Tucker on Archaeology; Bobby McAlpine on Intimacy; Stephen Sills on Aspirations; Mark Cunningham on Symmetry; Richard Mishaan on Portals; Campion Platt on Proportion; Cindy Smith and Jane Schwab on Editing; Juan Montoya on Scale; Amy Lau on Commissions; Suzanne Kasler on Style; Thomas O’Brien on Vintage Modern; Alan Wanzenberg on Modernity; Alexa Hampton on Tradition; Kelly Wearstler on Glamour; Anthony Baratta on Exuberance; Tom Scheerer on Luxury; Suzanne Rheinstein on Nuance; Timothy Corrigan on Welcoming Spaces; Bunny Williams on Comfort; Miles Redd on Reinvention; Martyn Lawrence Bullard on Sex; Mario Buatta on Color; Darryl Carter on White; Alessandra Branca on Red; Alex Papachristidis on Layering; Victoria Hagan on Light; Thad Hayes on Quality; Kathryn Ireland on Textiles; Windsor Smith on Communication; Nancy Braithwaite on Collecting; Kathryn Scott on Patina; Timothy Whealon on Antiques; Rose Tarlow on Books; Thomas Jayne on Provenance; Emily Summers on Sourcing Furniture; Thomas Pheasant on Inspiration; Sandra Nunnerley on Jazz; Penny Drue Baird on Paris; Jeffrey Bilhuber on America; Robert Couturier on Fashion; Ann Pyne on Poetry; Alan Tanksley on Destinations; Charlotte Moss on Couture |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Alberto Giacometti, Zeichnungen, Graphik, Illustrierte Bücher Alberto Giacometti, Badenwerk, 1996 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: French Modern Steven Heller, Louise Fili, 1997 This strikingly designed volume presents French Modern commercial graphic design in all its glory. Every aspect of French life in the lively and turbulent decades of the '20s and '30s is displayed in this rich compendium of highly stylized design concepts, including magazines, posters, brochures, and retail packages. From exhibition affiches proclaiming the dawn of a new cultural era and symbolic advertisements celebrating the marriage of man and machine to seductive perfume packages and exquisitely chic cocktail paraphernalia, this stunning survey offers a wealth of original artifacts - some never before seen in the United States - making it an essential reference for industrial designers, graphic artists, and anyone with an interest in the history of fine design and advertising. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Catalogues of Sales Sotheby's (Firm), 1990-05-16 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: A Giacometti Portrait James Lord, 1980-07 When we look at a painting hanging on an art gallery wall, we see only what the artist has chosen to disclose--the finished work of art. What remains mysterious is the process of creation itself--the making of the work of art. Everyone who has looked at paintings has wondered about this, and numerous efforts have been made to discover and depict the creative method of important artists. A Giacometti Portrait is a picture of one of the century's greatest artists at work. James Lord sat for eighteen days while his friend Alberto Giamcometti did his portrait in oil. The artist painted, and the model recorded the sittings and took photographs of the work in its various stages. What emerged was an illumination of what it is to be an artist and what it was to be Giacometti--a portrait in prose of the man and his art. A work of great literary distinction, A Giacometti Portrait is, above all, a subtle and important evocation of a great artist. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Bunny Mellon Meryl Gordon, 2017-09-26 A biography of Bunny Mellon, the style icon and American aristocrat who designed the White House Rose Garden for her friend JFK and served as a living witness to 20th Century American history, operating in the high-level arenas of politics, diplomacy, art and fashion. Bunny Mellon, who died in 2014 at age 103, was press-shy during her lifetime. With the co-operation of Bunny Mellon's family, author Meryl Gordon received access to thousands of pages of her letters, diaries and appointment calendars and has interviewed more than 175 people to capture the spirit of this talented American original. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: J. M. W. Turner Joseph Mallord William Turner, 2000 Published to accompany the exhibition at the Tate Gallery, Liverpool 23 June - 1 October 2000. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Schiaparelli and the Artists André Leon Talley, Suzy Menkes, Christian Lacroix, 2017-10-03 Published on the occasion of the couture house’s ninetieth anniversary, this book celebrates Elsa Schiaparelli’s shared creative passion with the twentieth century’s most esteemed artists. Known for her bravado and boundary-pushing dresses, Elsa Schiaparelli is undoubtedly one of the greatest icons of twentieth-century fashion. After launching her eponymous haute couture house in Paris in 1927, the Roman-born designer captured the attention of the world at large not only thanks to her trompe l’oeil patterns and surrealist forms—but also because of her creative relationships with some of the epoch’s most renowned artists. From Salvador Dalí, who collaborated with Schiaparelli on her infamous Lobster Dress to Alberto Giacometti’s furnishings for her salon and René Magritte, whose surrealist works inspired some of the designer’s creations, this beautifully illustrated tome delves into the couturiere’s fascinating rapports with these artistic legends. Through never-before-seen photography, intimate anecdotes, and essays penned by some of today’s most authoritative fashion critics, curators, and personalities, this volume is the first definitive work dedicated to the shared inspiration between the designer and her circle of artist friends. Unique in its breadth of artwork and diverse contributors, this visually stunning book is a must for anyone interested in avant-garde art, twentieth-century fashion, or thought-provoking design. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Vogue Living: Country, City, Coast Hamish Bowles, Chloe Malle, 2017-10-24 From stunning urban oases to lavish gardens and waterfront estates, this is an irresistible look at the homes of important figures in fashion, design, art, and society that have appeared in the pages of Vogue. Here is Tory Burch’s stylish and informal Southampton estate, Lauren and Andres Santo Domingo’s glamorous duplex in Paris, Dries Van Noten’s romantic house and garden in Belgium, Alexa and Trevor Traina’s dramatic and colorful San Francisco house, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber’s lakeside Canadian cabin, shoe maestro Bruno Frisoni and designer Hervé Van der Straeten’s modern house in the heart of Tangier, Stella McCartney’s grand English country garden, Olya and Charles Thompson’s richly patterned Brooklyn house, and the old-world Wilshire estate of Gela Nash-Taylor and Duran Duran’s John Nash Taylor and many more. These breathtaking houses and gardens have been photographed by such celebrated photographers as François Halard, Oberto Gili, Mario Testino and Bruce Weber among others; such writers as Hamish Bowles, Joan Juliet Buck, Plum Sykes, Jonathan Van Meter and Chloe Malle give you an intimate view of the owners and how they live. This book is a look at some of the world’s most iconic houses and gardens—not only rich in ideas for all readers but a resource and inspiration for designers, architects, and landscape architects as well. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Thomas Schütte Thomas Schütte, Moderna museet (Stockholm, Sweden), 2016 Thomas Sch�tte: United Enemies takes the artist's sculptural works from the past two decades as its starting point. The heavy bronze giants in United Enemies (2011), originate in small hastily sculptured ?gures with heads of modelling clay, created almost twenty years earlier. The book is richly illustrated and presents the sculptures, along with a selection of the artist's works on paper and architectural models. In his works he explores transformations of scale, and the intimate and personal is juxtaposed with the monumental and authoritarian. The main essay by Bente Larsen, Professor in Art History at the University of Oslo, focuses on the fragmented body and how this aesthetical and philosophical concept relates to Thomas Sch�tte's work. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Françoise Gilot, monotypes ; préfaces de Hélène Ahrweiler et Judith Solodkin Françoise Gilot, 1989 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Kunst der ersten Jahrhunderthälfte 1900 bis 1960 Städtisches Museum Abteiberg Mönchengladbach (Germany), 1990 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Goodbye Picasso David Douglas Duncan, 1974 A collection of photographs of Pablo Picasso's life and art, taken by his friend, award-winning photojournalist David Douglas Duncan. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Giacometti James Lord, 1997-10-30 The work of one of the towering creative spirits of the century, Alberto Giacometti's visionary sculptures and paintings from a testament to the artist's intriguing life story. From modest beginnings in a Swiss village, Giacometti went on to flourish in the picturesque milieu of prewar Paris and then to achieve international acclaim in the fifties and sixties. Picasso, Balthus, Samuel Beckett, Stravinsky and Sartre have parts in his story, along with flamboyant art dealers, whores, shady drifters, unscrupulous collectors, poets and thieves. Women were a complex yet important element of his life--particularly his wife, Annette, and his last mistress and model, Caroline--as was the intimate relationship he shared with his brother Diego, who was both Alberto's confidant and collaborator. James Lord was personally acquainted with Giacometti and his entourage, and combines firsthand experience with a unique knowledge gathered during many years of observation and research. In this exceptional biography Lord unfolds the personal history of a man who managed to achieve a heroic destiny by remaining utterly true to himself and to his calling. Giacometti: A Biography was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award. James Lord has subsequently published three volumes of memoirs. In recognition of his contribution to French culture he has been made an officer of the Legion of Honour. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Beyond Modern Sculpture J. Burnham, 1968 |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Queer Saint - The Cultured Life of Peter Watson Adrian Clark & Jeremy Dronfield, 2015-04-02 When Peter Watson was murdered in his bath by a jealous boyfriend in 1956, the art world lost one of its wealthiest, most influential patrons. This compellingly attractive man, adored by Cecil Beaton; a man who was called a legend by contemporaries, who was the subject of two scandalous novels, and who helped launch the careers of Francis Bacon, John Craxton and Lucian Freud, fell victim to a fortune-hungry lover.Elegant and hungrily sexual, Peter Watson had a taste for edgy, disreputable boyfriends. He was the unrequited love of Cecil Beaton's life - his 'queer saint' - but Peter preferred the risk of edgier, less sophisticated lovers, including the beautiful, volatile, drug-addicted prostitute Denham Fouts. Peter's thirst for adventure took him through the cabaret culture of 1930s Berlin, the demi-monde and aristocratic salons of pre-war Paris, English high society, and the glitz of Hollywood's golden age.Gore Vidal described him as 'a charming man, tall, thin, perverse. One of those intricate English queer types who usually end up as field marshals, but because he was so rich he never had to do anything.' Truman Capote called him 'not just another rich queen, but - in a stooped, intellectual, bitter-lipped style - one of the most personable men in England'.More than just a gay playboy, Peter Watson was a renowned connoisseur, and fuelled the engine of mid-twentieth century art with his enormous wealth. Without his patronage, Bacon and Freud might have failed before they'd got started. He also founded the influential British arts journal Horizon with Cyril Connolly and Stephen Spender, and was one of the core founders of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and organised most of its early exhibitions.From the mystery of his obscure family origins to the enigma surrounding his premature death, this book follows Peter Watson through an odyssey of the mid twentieth century, from high society to sweaty underworld, and discovers a man tormented by depression and doubt; he ultimately wanted love and a sense of self-worth but instead found angst and a squalid death.'PETER WATSON (1908-1956), LONG FORGOTTEN AS AN ASTUTE GREY EMINENCE IN THE ART WORLD OF HIS DAY, DISCERNING COLLECTOR OF PAINTINGS, PATRON OF THE YOUNG AND PROMISING, FOUNDER AND BENEFACTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS, IS AT LAST AND DESERVEDLY THE SUBJECT OF A SCRUPULOUS AND COMPELLING INVESTIGATION' - BRIAN SEWELL'THIS COMPELLING REDISCOVERY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER WATSON CASTS NEW LIGHT ON THE INTELLECTUAL AND ARTISTIC WORLD OF MID-TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN: THE WORLD OF BACON AND FREUD, CYRIL CONNOLLY AND STEPHEN SPENDER' - LOYD GROSSMAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE HERITAGE ALLIANCE |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Frocking Life BillyBoy*, 2016-12-20 At an early age, BillyBoy* chose two mentors: Bugs Bunny and Elsa Schiaparelli. From Bugs Bunny, he learned the basics of how to behave in society and how to manage life’s wicked turns; to be coy, smart, witty, and to always dress appropriately with the assurance of Beau Brummell. But most of all, his cartoon mentor taught him a lighthearted approach to life, and an entertaining charm that is to personality what humor is to good conversation. From Schiaparelli, who he discovered at age fourteen through a very strange hat in a Paris flea market, he learned the meanings of love and art. His human mentor opened doors that he “never even dreamed existed,” as the title character says to her nephew in Auntie Mame. As Schiap turned into a genuine passion, she became a golden thread that led to all sorts of discoveries, encounters, and inspirations over the next forty years. A wealthy orphan with a glamorous but complicated background, BillyBoy* adopted the legendary designer as a guardian angel of sorts, and has spent a lifetime searching for her, through her clothes. Inspired by Shocking Life, Schiaparelli's own memoir, FROCKING LIFE will resonate with anyone who loves fashion and flamboyant storytelling. Built around some of the most iconic pieces ever created by the designer, this book is about endless discoveries, and the meaning that can be transmitted, across decades, by a simple piece of clothing. Peopled by dazzling characters from Schiaparelli's own inner circle and the worlds of art and fashion— Saint Laurent, Vreeland, Warhol to name a few—this is a scintillating yet profound homage to a woman who saw life as art, and inspired a young boy to do the same. BillyBoy* has always been a strange fruit and it must be said, not everyone could have a bite of it. The press adored him since he was, as author Edmund White wrote, “good copy.” In fact, his thrilling journey through fashion, culture, and art are deeply tied to what he wore for each occasion. One day, it is a skintight silver lamé studded outfit by Nudie Cohen (the designer of Elvis Presley’s elaborate ensembles), which was originally made for David Cassidy. For a tea with the Begum Aga Khan at the Ritz, he played the part of the dandy in a conservative suit with impeccable tie, topped by a Vivienne Westwood/Malcolm McClaren Buffalo hat adorned with a silk lettuce leaf. For an interview at home with German Vogue, he transformed into a sex kitten in hot pants and an Yves Saint Laurent sheer blouse. This book is both BillyBoy*'s personal story of his intense spiritual and metaphysical journey through life, and also his authoritative insight into the life and work of Elsa Schiaparelli who became such an influence on him. As an historian and collector, his close examination of the milieu of European and American, Scandinavian and Asian high fashion and his detailed research into Schiaparelli's haute couture seasonal collections (and her vast number of licensed fashion and accessories) will appeal not only to fashionistas and haute couture devotees and collectors. It explores their relationship to her era, through the many friendships and relationships with the iconic people in fashion he forged over four decades. Anecdotes of varied stars in all aspects of culture will interest those who study 20th-century art and history. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Stephen Sills Stephen Sills, 2013-10-22 The first book to focus on the solo residential work of the visionary interior decorator Stephen Sills. Simultaneously classical and modern, Stephen Sills’s design work is a dialogue between past and present. Filled with luxurious fabrics, furnishings from across centuries, and unusual finishes, his work is polished, seemingly effortless, and quietly rich, with a muted color palette that serves as a brilliant foil for modern art. In this striking, meditative volume, the follow-up to his best-selling book Dwellings, Sills presents sixteen breathtaking homes, gorgeously photographed by the legendary François Halard, in locations as varied as a penthouse on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, a modern Aspen retreat, an estate on the North Shore of Long Island, and his own country house in Bedford, New York (dubbed the chicest house in America by Karl Lagerfeld). Common to them all is a sense of atmosphere, point of view, and soul—the sense of a master craftsman at work. |
| alberto giacometti chandelier: Home from the Hardware Store Stephen Antonson, Kathleen Hackett, 2010-11-09 50 stylish projects from the aisles of the home improvement center In Home from the Hardware Store, artist and designer Stephen Antonson and his wife, Kathleen Hackett ply the aisles of the home improvement center and emerge with a host of ideas for clever, original decorative objects any interior designer would love. Antonson and Hackett cast their eyes on pedestrian materials—drain covers, cork matting, plumbing parts, light sockets, brass nails—and see lamps, wallpaper, table runners, side tables, even cuff links. Organized by decorating challenge, chapters include ideas for lighting, windows and walls, furniture, tabletop, and storage. Beautiful full-color photos, including how-to pictures along with clear, concise, yet friendly instructions, accompany every project. Sidebars and quick tips are scattered throughout, providing DIYers with gentle reminders and instructions for basic tool and equipment use. Design lovers, crafters, and penny pinchers alike will find much to inspire in Home from the Hardware Store. |
