Great Art Explained

‘James Payne’s YouTube Channel “Great Art Explained” gained a huge and appreciative worldwide audience. This beautifully put-together book is simply the best introduction to the lifelong pleasure and rewards of looking at pictures since Gombrich. An instant classic’ - Stephen Fry
‘A beautifully persuasive work to remind you to look a little longer and to be enchanted by the stories each work can hold. It tells us not to be afraid of art and what it can do to us – it will transform the walls around you’ - Robin Ince
‘Like walking through an ambitious museum…in which visual examples are accompanied by a gifted narrator who provides a voice-over which gives information picture-by-picture… What I find most masterful in Payne’s account is his uncanny ability to move swiftly from one example to the next one, in a way that builds upon the support of full large, excellent color plates. In his hands, thirty works provide an instructive perspective on world art history’ - David Carrier, Counterpunch
‘Beautifully and generously illustrated on good quality, heavy, glossy paper, it’s a substantial tome that certainly does fulfil its apparent aim of being an art primer for the beginner. Once you get inside, James takes your interest seriously and explains artists, techniques, themes and movements in straightforward language, managing to be both quick and thorough at the same time’ - ArtBookReview
‘Payne writes as he speaks with a calm, clear and compelling voice … His eye for detail is matched only by his gift for storytelling … This is art history without jargon, but never without depth’ - Artlyst
‘‘[A] colorful survey of 30 artworks… The breadth of works highlighted, combined with Payne’s knack for condensing massive amounts of biographical, historical, and technical information, makes this an excellent introduction. Art lovers will be entranced’ - Publishers Weekly
‘The book follows the same plain-speaking approach as his films, steering clear of jargon and academic detours. Instead, Payne aims to explain why certain works have endured, and how they continue to resonate across cultures and centuries’ - Art Plugged
‘A handheld museum. What an amazing introduction to some of the world’s most iconic artworks’ - Craig Burnett
’[James Payne] brings his no-nonsense analysis to this perfect Christmas gift’ - Maxwell Museums
‘A cultural tonic for art lovers … offers a deeper understanding of great works of art from around the world’ - Lee Sharrock, Forbes
‘Lavishly illustrated … delivers an introduction to the history of art that is engaging and, on occasions, revelatory’ - International Times
‘One of the most useful books about art … Marvellous’ - Bel Mooney, Daily Mail

James Payne is a writer, curator, and educator, as well as the creator of the popular YouTube channels Great Art Explained and Great Books Explained. Payne’s videos have been shown at museums and galleries such as the Albertina Museum in Vienna, and he has given talks in several countries, including South Korea, Portugal, and Italy. Payne was also co-owner and Head Curator of PayneShurvell gallery (2010-14).

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