Art Inspired Reading List

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

Calling all readers and bibliophiles and lovers of ART!

Here is a quick list of art inspired books that will help pass the time while we are all social distancing.  I compiled this list from previous blog posts/reviews, so if you want more information on the individual books, please scroll through the blog’s back catalog of posts.  I also chose books on a variety of topics to keep things interesting.

I understand that most libraries are probably closed at this point, so I have double checked and every book on this list is available for Kindle!  Plus, Amazon has some special offers for those considering signing up for their Kindle Unlimited service.

  • Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut
    • A fake autobiography by an Abstract Expressionist painter who never existed.  Vonnegut’s take on the post-war art world of NYC is full of dark comedy and satire.
  • The Lost Painting by Justin Harr
    • A detailed look at how time-consuming and complicated it can be to authenticate a painting, especially one by the great Caravaggio.
  • A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
    • Did you know that Andrew Wyeth’s famous painting, “Christina’s World,” was inspired by a real person?  Read her side of the story and you’ll never see the painting the same way again.
  • The Secret Supper by Javier Sierra
    • We all love a good art historical conspiracy theory… especially when it involves Leonardo da Vinci!  Based on tons of art historical research, read and decide for yourself.
  • Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper by Harriet Scott Chessman
    • Written from the perspective of Lydia, Mary Cassatt’s older sister and frequent model, this book offers the reader an incredibly personal take on life and art.
  • Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made art & Changed History (in That Order) by Bridget Quinn
    • Quinn writes in a humorous and insightful conversational style that may seem jarring when discussing art historical topics.  Thankfully, Quinn writes with such passion and enthusiasm, that it quickly becomes endearing and moving.
  • Van Gogh: The Life by Naifeh & Smith
    • This is the big one… literally!  Coming in at around 1000 pages (in paperback), this book is probably the most comprehensive study of the life of Vincent van Gogh.

Again, all of these books are available for Kindle and be sure to search for Kindle Unlimited to get the best deals.  Happy reading!

 

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.