Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
Peacock & Vine: On William Morris and Mariano Fortuny Hardcover – August 2, 2016 by
This ravishing book opens a window into the lives, designs, and passions of Mariano Fortuny and William Morris, two remarkable artists who themselves are passions of the writer A. S. Byatt.
Born a generation apart in the mid-1800s, Fortuny and Morris were seeming opposites: Fortuny a Spanish aristocrat thrilled by the sun-baked cultures of Crete and Knossos; Morris a member of the British bourgeoisie, enthralled by Nordic myths. Through their revolutionary inventions and textiles, both men inspired a new variety of art that is as striking today as when it was first conceived. In this elegant meditation, Byatt traces their genius right to the source.
Fortuny’s Palazzo Pesaro Orfei in Venice is a warren of dark spaces imbued with the rich hues of Asia. In his attic workshop, Fortuny created intricate designs from glowing silks and velvets; in the palazzo he found “happiness in a glittering cavern” alongside the French model who became his wife and collaborator, including on the famous “Delphos” dress—a flowing, pleated gown that evoked the era of classical Greece.
Morris’s Red House outside London, with its Gothic turrets and secret gardens, helped inspire his stunning floral and geometric patterns; it likewise represented a coming together of life and art. But it was a “sweet simple old place” called Kelmscott Manor in the countryside that he loved best—even when it became the setting for his wife’s love affair with the artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Generously illustrated with the artists’ beautiful designs—pomegranates and acanthus, peacock and vine—among other aspects of their worlds, this marvel-filled book brings the visions and ideas of Fortuny and Morris to vivid life.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Booker Prize-winning novelist Byatt persuasively makes the case for viewing the achievements of two seemingly dissimilar designers in the same light. The English-born William Morris came from a bourgeois background, and looked to the medieval Christian tradition for inspiration for his fabric and textile designs. Mariano Fortuny, who was descended from an aristocratic Spanish family and designed fabrics in his Venice studio, had an imagination steeped in Mediterranean culture. Byatt finds kinship in their indebtedness to classic traditions, and the balance of beauty and utility that they strove for in their productions. Byatt is an unabashed enthusiast of both her subjects, and her passion for their work enlivens every sentence of her text. Abundant color illustrations bear out her contention that both men ‘changed the visual world around them.’” —Publishers Weekly
sydneyeditor1 said:
Oh wow, this is new to me — I’m particularly interested in the illustrations!
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Hfineisen said:
The illustrations should be pretty amazing. I love finding new books on wow. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Reading!
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yvonne473 said:
This one is new to me. Hope you enjoy it!
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Hfineisen said:
Thanks. I love discovering new books. Happy Reading!
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evaallbooksconsidered said:
This sounds great and it’s totally new to me! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for stopping by my WoW!
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Hfineisen said:
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Glad you found something new! Happy Reading!
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Renee' said:
Hope you enjoy it!
Renee ~ My Wow
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Hfineisen said:
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your wow. Happy Reading!
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Diane Coto said:
Sounds good. I think what I’m waiting for most is Home by Harlan Coben. It’s #11 of his Myron Bolitar series. 🙂
@dino0726 from
FictionZeal – Impartial, Straightforward Fiction Book Reviews
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Hfineisen said:
I haven’t read that series but I really like his stand alone books. I’ll have to try it!
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Lekeisha The Booknerd said:
I’m not really into art books like this, but I hope you love it. Although, the history has me mildly interested. Enjoy!
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Hfineisen said:
I think it’s right up my alley and I appreciate your comment. Thanks for stopping by! Happy Reading!
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Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know said:
This is the first time I’m hearing about this one. I hope you enjoy it!
WOW
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
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Hfineisen said:
It’s always fun to hear about a new book. Happy Reading!
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