Erich Lessing (1923–2018)

I rather liked this book. Initally I thought that it was a bit overwrought with multiple prose sections .....mainly about Ulysses and the places he visited...but also a kind of philosophy of photography. But generally i found the prose sections quite interesting ...especially when they were arguing the merits of various current sites and trying to line them up with what Homer had said. I'd always regarded Homer's stories as having a "grain" of truth but this book has convinced me that there show more was much more than a "grain" of truth and most of the places where Ulysses visited and had his adventures seem to have modern counterparts and (presumably) these correspond with those in Homer's tales. Some of the detail is just too close to be merely a work of imagination. (Leaving aside the various giants and supernatural creatures who inhabited these places)
I wonder if Homer actually went on such a sea voyage? And, if not, who did? And if it was actually Homer himself....was he able to see at the time (ie not blind)? Or how did he get such accurate details as:
".......Ithaca. On its coast is an inlet
sacred to Phorkys, the ancient of the sea,
where two detached headlands of sheer cliff stand forth and screen a harbour between their steeps".
Seems to me, that somebody actually made such a journey and put it to verse. Was it a mariner's handbook as well as a lusty story? I guess there are thousands of learned treatises about this.
Anyway, the authors have made a first rate job of marrying the text of the Odyssey with the photos of Erich Lessing. Sometimes, I think Lessing goes in for a bit too much macro focus ...eg with the ram on plate 77 and he's actually best when he's photographing current scenery ..such as the various islands or beaches or landscapes. I must have read variations of the Odyssey many times but this particular version brought it alive for me. Though, I must admit, I find the idea of the Gods playing such an active and intertwined role with humans a bit hard to swallow.
The book is not quite as old as Homer ....but still by modern standards, rather dated (1966) but it holds up well...and I only paid $7 for it so think I got a bargain. Happy to give it four stars and I'm teetering on giving it five. show less

I've always wanted to visit the Louvre and Paris but unfortunately I doubt that will ever happen so being able to see all the paintings in this beautiful book, gave me the opportunity to see what I'm missing. I was surprised at the volume of paintings that were of a religious nature- so many Madonna and Child, Crucifixions, and others but also the number of portraits. I expected more landscapes and still lifes as well. All in all, a beautiful experience of viewing the works of great masters show more of art. show less

The Louvre: All the Paintings
By: Erich Lessing, Loyrette Henri, Vincent Pomarède, Anja Grebe

When I saw this book and with a DVD-ROM included in the Amazon Vine program, I jumped on it immediately. Our family travel plans have us scheduled in 2012 to visit the wonderful city of Paris, France and knowing the Louvre was Number 1 on our list of places to visit, the record of every painting was too good to resist.

This 766 page volume is broken down into four sections: The Italian School, The show more Northern Schools, The French School, and The Spanish School. The indexes also catalog by The Artists, The Art Works, and The Painting Galleries of the Louvre. You can locate your favorite artists and each of their paintings and where to find them. Oh course, everyone wants to see "The Mona Lisa" which is on page 68 and located in Denon, Floor 1, Room 6.

With 3,022 paintings on display in the permanent collection, this book (endorsed by the Louvre) made it possible for each family member to view their favorite art work and make plans for our actual visit.

My thanks go out to the world's most visited museum for allowing this historical publication and to the photography of Erich Lessing for bringing these spectacular art works to the public.

My collection of art books was greatly enhanced with the acquisition of this remarkable book. Buy this book and you will not be disappointed. show less

7. The Adventures of Ulysses: Homer's Epic in Pictures by Erich Lessing
introduction: Karl Kerényi
published: 1969 (translated from German in 1970)
format: Hardcover with 71 pages of text and 71 full page images
acquired: borrowed from my library
read: Feb 12-13
Rating: 3 stars

This 1970 publication mixes a the story of The Odyssey with various relics and scenery photographs. Lessing calls it a "museum of the imagination", or at least that is his goal. There are 71 images, so take it as you show more will. The text is a complete summary of the Odyssey, mixed with numerous excerpts from a 1932 translation by T. E. Shaw. One highlight is that the introduction is by [[Karl Kerényi]] - it's the first time I have read anything by him.

Overall there is nothing special here, although the big book is kind of cool, and I like that my library had a copy, with stamped due dates that range from June 6, 1979 to Feb 1, 1991.

2016
https://www.librarything.com/topic/209547#5472962 show less