Holbein

Fortescue, BeatriceProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 261K words
Chapters: 27

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Holbein by Beatrice FortescueAuthor: Fortescue, Beatrice,Language: English, Class: ND: Fine Arts: Painting, Release Date: Jun 17, 2009

Editor's review

Beatrice Fortescue's Holbein is a short art book for general readers, a painter's biography within the public-domain e-book category. It does not rely on plates but uses words to trace Holbein's life and working environment, helping readers situate this Renaissance painter in his era. The narrative is concise and the chapters progress clearly, making it a good first step into Holbein studies: establish the figure and the period first, then turn to catalogues or original works in museums. Read it as a "written guide" rather than a picture catalogue, and look up images separately when specific works are mentioned. For beginners in art history, those preparing for a museum visit, and readers curious about the context of Northern Renaissance painting, this small book offers an easy entry point; those seeking in-depth visual analysis or the latest scholarship will need more specialized works.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers preparing to visit a Holbein exhibition who want to learn about his life first
Beginners in art history who need a concise painter's biography as a framework
General readers interested in the context of Northern Renaissance painting
Readers who collect public-domain art e-books and prefer textual narrative

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting high-resolution plates and work-by-work analysis
Specialist researchers who need the latest scholarly views and detailed notes
People who only want to browse paintings quickly and do not want to read a textual narrative

Reading tips

Read the whole book first to establish a framework of the life and period, then return to specific works and look up images.
Note the titles of works mentioned as you read, and search for images in one go after finishing.
Use it alongside museum websites or catalogues, cross-checking the narrative against details of the works.
If time is limited, prioritize the chapters dealing with representative works and the working environment.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Does this book include plates of Holbein's paintings?

From the information available, this is a public-domain text released by Project Gutenberg, whose main value lies in the biographical narrative rather than plates. When reading, it is advisable to look up images of the paintings separately and use it as a written guide.

Is it suitable for readers with no background in art history at all?

It works well as an introductory framework. The book introduces Holbein's life and working environment in words, with a concise narrative that requires no prior knowledge; but to understand specific works in depth, catalogues or art history textbooks are still needed.

What can readers gain from this book?

Mainly an overall understanding of Holbein and his era, and a textual thread into his works. It helps readers build a background framework before looking at paintings, rather than replacing visual analysis or specialized research.

Should I read this book first or look at a catalogue first?

Either order works. If you want a framework first, read this small book before looking up images; if you already plan to visit an exhibition, you can look at a catalogue first and then use this book to fill in the life and period background—the two work better together.

Comments

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About the author

Fortescue, Beatrice Author

Beatrice Fortescue is an author about whom limited public information is available. Only one work can currently be confirmed, namely Holbein. Judging from the title, the book concerns the Renaissance painter Hans Holbein the Younger and belongs to the field of art history or artist studies. Because reliable information on the author's life, nationality and educational background is lacking, no further account can be given of her academic lineage or writing career. On the available evidence, the book is more likely intended for general readers, introducing Holbein's life, his portrait work and his activity at the Tudor court, with an emphasis on narrative and interpretation of individual works rather than on arduous textual scholarship. For Chinese readers seeking an initial understanding of the painter and his era, a focused study of this kind can serve as an introductory reference.