Product Description

This defintive, full-color reflection of Mapplethorpe's geometric formality and underlying religiosity provides an insight into the art and career of the artist that previous black-and-white volumes cannot. An accompanying essay by Esmund White puts Mapplethorpe into historical, social, sexual, and artistic context. 100 color and duotone plates. 3 gatefolds. Slipcased.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1275367 in Books
• Published on: 1995-11-14
• Released on: 1995-11-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 139 pages

From Library Journal
A follow-up to Mapplethorpe, Random House's 1992 catalog of the photographer's most important black-and-white works, this equally lavish slipcased volume introduces readers to more obscure pieces. From collages and polaroids of the early 1970s to Mapplethorpe's color photography and one-of-a-kind sculptural frames built to work as a piece with the special photographs, this tantalizing and eclectic mix leaves the reader wishing for more examples of many of the experiments. Without going into detail on all of the styles, White's (Genet, LJ 9/15/93) essay uses extensive quotes to place the pieces in context, particularly focusing on Mapplethorpe's sexuality and his deep interest in Catholic iconography and architecture-hence the title. While they provide some surprising insights and their study is essential to anyone researching the photographer's ouevre, the pieces included here were not the basis for the artist's reputations-good and ill. As such, Altars is recommended only for larger libraries already possessing the previous collection.
Eric Bryant, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap
This defintive, full-color reflection of Mapplethorpe's geometric formality and underlying religiosity provides an insight into the art and career of the artist that previous black-and-white volumes cannot. An accompanying essay by Esmund White puts Mapplethorpe into historical, social, sexual, and artistic context. 100 color and duotone plates. 3 gatefolds. Slipcased.

Customer Reviews

Altars
One of the most beautiful collections of Mapplethorpe's work that I have seen; it is a very good overview of his photography and is a must-see for any art aficianado.

A great collection of his work.
This book is large format (12" square) and comes supplied with a strong card case which protects the book and dust jacket from damage.

The photographs themselves are extremely well presented, many in colour or with colour surrounds or mounts. The range moves from formal portraits to some sex images to self-portraits to flowers and a couple of excellent still-life pieces. The book is simply sumptuous in its feel.

Most of this work is definitely towards the 'art' end of this photographer's spectrum. There is a very useful list of plates at the rear of the book with full details of the date, subject, photograph size, etc.

There is also a rather meandering essay by Edmund White which can safely be ignored or, if you enjoy pompous and meaningless written drivel, enjoyed depending on yourself.

A superb addition to the bookshelf of any Mapplethorpe fan, or indeed any lover of art photography.