The lush, glossy, 350-page coffee-table book “Van Dyck, the European: The Journey from Antwerp to Genova and London,” which will be published July 14 by Hannibal Books, traces the great Flemish painter’s rise using beautiful imagery and informative text, all intricately curated.
Anthony Van Dyck died in 1641 at the age of 42, but the artist’s work doesn’t seem dated at all. The book sheds new light on his practice and process, and I also learned so much about his childhood and his upbringing, discovering unique insights into one of the best-known painters of the Baroque era.
The publication coincides with the exhibition “Van Dyck; the European at the Palazzo Ducale” at Genoa’s Palazzo Ducale, which runs until July 19.
The three cities in the book’s title were all pivotal to the late, great Van Dyck: Antwerp, where he was born; Genoa, where he spent a significant amount of time and where the exhibition is hosted; and London, where he died.
“Van Dyck was an artist with the ability to cross geographical, cultural and political boundaries, transforming every experience into an opportunity for growth and innovation,” writes Marco Bucci, president of the Liguria region, and former mayor of Genoa, in the book.
“Antwerp, Genoa and London were not simply stages in his career but places where he developed a new pictorial language that could speak to various contexts and engage in dialogue with the power, faith and society of his time,” Bucci continues.
The book features a vibrant selection of works, highlighting how Van Dyck captured the elegance and ambition of an ever-morphing Europe, something that is still relevant today.
Van Dyck’s portraits of Antwerp citizens, Genoese aristocrats, and courtiers from the circle of Charles I reflect his visual language. His paintings evoke early modern Europe with a signature style all his own.
Ideal for art historians and enthusiasts, the book illustrates the work of this well-renowned artist and is a fun, artsy addition to your home library.
