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Masterpieces of Fantasy Art

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Masterpieces of Fantasy Art traces the vibrant evolution of fantasy art from its 1923 roots in Weird Tales magazine through its resurgence with The Lord of the Rings and Conan the Barbarian in the 1960s, the 1970s boom thanks to Dungeons & Dragons and Star Wars, and a renewed interest sparked by 1990s trading card games. The book explores iconic voices like Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, and HR Giger, showcasing original paintings, preparatory sketches, sculptures, and memorabilia for a comprehensive dive into this imaginative genre. Detailed biographies reveal the fascinating lives behind the art, making this a definitive and lavish tribute to fantasy art history.
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Format: Hardback
$63000

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is perfect for fans of fantasy and speculative art, art enthusiasts interested in imaginative realism, collectors of art history volumes, and readers keen on the cultural impact of myth-inspired visual storytelling.

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This monster tome has it all, with works by over 100 fantasy artists. Julie Bell, Philippe Druillet, Frank Frazetta, H.R. Giger, The Brothers Hildebrandt, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Moebius, Rowena Morrill, Boris Vallejo, and Michael Whelan are here, along with first sketches and other materials for a deep dive into this dynamic genre.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Fantasy art, that colourful blend of myth, muscle and sexy maidens, took off in 1923 with the launch of Weird Tales magazine. It was reinvigorated in the 1960s with The Lord of the Rings, Conan the Barbarian paperbacks with Frank Frazetta covers, and the late '60s emergence of fantasy psychedelia. It went big in the '70s with the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, the brilliant French magazine Métal Hurlant, and the first Star Wars film.

The number of active artists peaked in that decade, but a new generation of fans discovered the genre through fantasy trading card games in the '90s, leading to a massive interest in the art form today. Frank Frazetta's oil paintings—when they infrequently come to market—have sold for more than $5 million in recent years. Fans line up at Comic-Cons to meet Boris Vallejo, Rodney Matthews, Greg Hildebrandt, Michael Whelan, and Philippe Druillet, and memorialise dead icons HR Giger, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, and Frazetta.

Imagine how eagerly they'll welcome TASCHEN's History of Fantasy Art, including all the artists listed above and more.

This monster-sized tome features original paintings, contextualised by preparatory sketches, sculptures, calendars, magazines, and paperback books for an immersive dive into this dynamic, fanciful genre. Insightful bios go beyond Wikipedia to give a more accurate and eye-opening look into the life of each artist. This collection will reign as the most exquisite and informative guide to this popular subject for years to come.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise this volume as a lavish and canonical collection, with mutualart.com calling it "an overwhelmingly gorgeous tome" and artnet.com highlighting fantasy art as "America's least understood fine-art form." La Liberté describes it as "a book at least as epic as its subject." Editor Dian Hanson reflects on the visceral impact of fantasy art, celebrating its rich colours and imaginative landscapes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783836572101

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 04 September 2020

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Edition: Multilingual edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 76.0mm

Width: 290.0mm

Height: 395.0mm

Weight: 6454g

Pages: 532

About the Author

Dian Hanson is a senior editor and writer for TASCHEN, with over 50 books to her credit. In addition to Hal Foster’s Tarzan, her recent works include ARNOLD, The Art of Pin-up, Masterpieces of Fantasy Art, and The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta.

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