"Author Javier Sierra embarks on a grand tour of the Prado museum in this historical novel that illuminates the fascinating mysteries behind some of the greatest paintings in the world--complete with gorgeous, full-color inserts of artwork by Raphael, Boticelli, and other masters."--

"Women of all times, places, and stations in life have taken needle in hand, either for the most utilitarian of purposes or for artistic reasons. Thsi charming collection of beautiful paintings celebrates the centuries-old iconography of women engaged in needle work and the related arts of knitting, lacemaking, and weaving. Artists have long sought to capture the needlewoman's quiet concertration and artistic endeavor, and many of the loveliest paintings...

"A world-class collection of paintings, in the palm of your hand The Art Institute of Chicago houses some of the most celebrated paintings from the nineteenth century to the present: Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Grant Wood's American Gothic, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks. These and nearly three hundred other masterpieces, from Delacroix and Ingres to Takashi Murakami and Kerry James Marshall, are illustrated in a vibrant new edition...

"Great paintings cannot be fully understood in a single encounter... [This book] spotlights the finer points a quick glance will almost certainly fail to reveal. These include subtle internal details, such as hidden symbols. Expert commentary reveals the technical tricks employed by the artist to achieve particular effects ... and also looks at the themes and external and personal factors influencing the creation of an artwork ..."--Book jacket.