The Bauhaus Group Six Masters of Modernism by Nicholas Fox Weber, softback published by Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-16984-3, price 18.00 available from www.yalebooks.co.uk

Like many others, on first flipping through the book, I was a little disappointed at the lack of colour photos. Yet, there are so many other books on the Bauhaus that have those. So I decided it is ultimately refreshing to have a book that approaches the bauhaus from another perspective. This book looks at the lives of some of the eminent teachers at the Bauhaus. In this way Weber brings to life the personalities behind one of the most enduring artistic movements of the 20th century. Many of the black and white photographs are of the artists themselves in their home surroundings. Whilst you might be familiar with their art in the widest sense of the word, including furniture, architecture and textiles, are you familiar with the lives of the artists? If you are not, you will find this book of interest as a biography.

A Closer Look Still Life by Erika Langmuir, softback published by The National Gallery. ISBN 978-1-8570-9500-5, price 7.99 available from www.yalebooks.co.uk

An interesting and informative look at still life. If you think it is just fruit on a table, this book will open your eyes to the meaning and sphere of still life. Taking images from paintings held in the National Gallery, London, Erika Langmuir explains the whys and wherefores of all elements of this broad style of painting. It includes trompe l’oeil, the masters and modern masters of art.

A Closer Look Allegory by Erika Langmuir, softback published by The National Gallery. ISBN 978-1-8570-9485-5, price 7.99 from www.yalebooks.co.uk

The meaning of allegory is one thing in art that often eludes students. This book clarifies its meaning with the aid of paintings in the National Gallery. Theology, the Bible, the cardinal sins and virtues, astrology and ancient myth all play their part in allegory and were used by painters. Understand the meaning behind paintings, the hidden messages. Discover the things that would have been obvious to scholars in their time but are a mystery to modern viewers. This book is a good introduction and is beautifully illustrated.

A Closer Look Angels by Erika Langmuir, softback published by The National Gallery. ISBN 978-1-8570-9484-8, price 7.99 available from www.yalebooks.co.uk

Part of this excellent series from The National Gallery, Angels takes a closer look at paintings in the gallery with cherubims and angels galore. These pocket guides are the perfect companion to a walk through the Gallery or for armchair admirers of art. This book explains the diverse role of angels as a heavenly choir, guardian angel or messenger. It goes into depth and is beautifully illustrated with appropriate paintings and close-ups.

The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art by Roslyn Adele Walker, hardback published by Yale Press. ISBN 978-0-3001-3895-5, price 55.00 from www.yalebooks.co.uk

This is one of my favourite books of the year so far. It’s incredibly beautiful, full of excellent colour plates of African art. It depicts 120 artefacts from the Dallas Museum, religious and social artefacts including sculptures, carvings and beads inspired by symbols of leadership and status to portray the cycle of life including afterlife and decorative qualities. The text puts African art into context. I was most interested in the decorative arts section, which includes a fragment of a carved door shutter, a door lock,a door, tent posts, commemorative rice bowls and much more including some textiles. The whole book brings African art to life. It is superb.

A Closer Look – Faces by Alexander Sturgis, softback from the National Gallery. ISBN 978-1-8570-9464-0, price 7.99 from www.yalebooks.co.uk

This handy pocket-sized book could accompany you on a visit to the National Gallery or be used by armchair lovers of art. It is a guide to some of the portraits that hang in the National Gallery, London. Faces you might recognise such as Renoir’s ‘The Umbrella’s’ or Titian’s ‘A Man With a Quilted Sleeve’. This book is about the kinds of faces and the characters artists portray, or what we assume about them. It takes a look at how painters paint faces, the ideal face, the subversion of ideals, capturing likeness and stereotypes. It talks about pose and setting, the eyes and expression. I found this a fascinating guide, beautifully illustrated with appropriate paintings and interesting text.

The Jaharis Gospel Lectionary, The Story of a Byzantine Book, by John Lowden, hardback published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0-300-14899-2, price 18.99 from www.yalebooks.co.uk

The illustration on the front cover entices you to look inside this book and indeed it is beautifully produced with similar illustrations inside, but not enough for my taste. This book is about a manuscript that lay hidden, almost forgotten. It demonstrates the craftsmanship of its time, around 1100. It was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917. John Lowden discusses this work in the broader context of Byzantine book illumination.

It is very reasonably priced for a scholarly book, printed on heavyweight paper and finely illustrated.

Serizawa, Master of Japanese Textile Design , ed Joe Earle, softback published by Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-15047-6, price 25.00 from www.yalebooks.co.uk

This beautifully produced 134 page book is full of inspiring Japanese textile design. It pays tribute to the work of Serizawa Keisuke, who was designated a living national treasure in 1956, and is considered to be one of the foremost artists of the twentieth century. This prolific textile artist is known for creativity and innovation as well as experimenting with many different materials. This is the first book in English to trace his career and output. It is a catalogue of the exhibition held by the Japan Society in New York.

A Closer Look at Saints by Erika Langmuir, softback by the National Gallery. ISBN 978-1-8570-9465-7, price 7.99 from www.yalebooks.co.uk

Some of the National Gallery’s religious images are contained in this book, which looks at the significance of saints and their role in the history of  European painting. It gives an account as to how and why the imagery of saints evolved. The text is authoritative, knowledgeable  and is accompanied by fine reproductions. If you have ever wondered about the saints and their imagery, that help us to distinguish them, this is an interesting introduction. This 96 page book ends with a list of saints you would find in the National Gallery.

Tullio Lombardo by Alison Luchs, hardback published by Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-15667-6, price 45.00 from www.yalebooks.co.uk

Subtitled ‘and the Venetian High Renaissance Sculpture’, this handsome book is a pictorial representation of Venetian sculpture. The accompanying learned text is from many contributors. Links are seen with the work of Bellini and others, at the same time working in northern Italy. The imaginative new art form encompassed ancient history, mythology and other spheres that captured the imagination of private collectors. The beauty and craftsmanship is breathtaking. This impressive book brings together a stunning collection of work.