The Story of Scottish Art

(Hardback)

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Description

The compelling story of over 5,000 years of Scottish art, told by Lachlan Goudie, renowned contemporary Scottish artist, broadcaster and presenter of BBC Four's 'The Story of Scottish Art'.

'An exhilarating, big-picture, and often surprising account of Scottish art' Andrew Marr

'Even more of a joy than the glorious Scottish art it celebrates ... A feast for the mind's eye' Simon Schama

This is the story of how Scotland has defined itself through its art over the past 5000 years, from the earliest enigmatic Neolithic symbols etched onto the landscape of Kilmartin Glen to Glasgow's fame as a centre of artistic innovation today. Lachlan Goudie brings his perspective and passion as a practising artist and broadcaster to narrate the joys and struggles of artists across the millennia striving to fulfil their vision and the dramatic transformations of Scottish society reflected in their art.

The Story of Scottish Art is beautifully illustrated with the diverse artworks that form Scotland's long tradition of bold creativity: Pictish carved stones and Celtic metalwork, Renaissance palaces and chapels, paintings of Scottish life and landscapes by Horatio McCulloch, David Wilkie and Joan Eardley, designs by master architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and collage and sculpture by Pop Art pioneer Eduardo Paolozzi. Lachlan tells the compelling story of how and why these and many other Scottish masterpieces were created, and the impact they have had on the world.

Reviews

'Lachlan Goudie is a fast and confident driver: this is an exhilarating, big-picture, and often surprising account of Scottish art, from the earliest mysterious objects and stone carvings, to painters whose studios are busy and reek of paint right now There is, indeed, something for everyone here, from those discovering the story of Scottish art for the first time, to others who thought - wrongly - that they already knew it' - Andrew Marr
'Lachlan Goudie's book is even more of a joy than the glorious Scottish art it celebrates and illuminates. His eye is that of working artist who knows well the mystery and sweat of deep creativity but his hand is also that of an eloquent and compelling storyteller. From Orcadian stones to modern colourists he has put together a feast for the mind's eye' - Simon Schama
'Not only does this book prove that few people know more about Scottish art than Lachlan Goudie, but that no one else cares more. A masterful panorama of art history, and an utterly compelling account of how a nation has seen, and continues to see, itself' - Sathnam Sanghera
'Moving and personal this fascinating book will become the definitive guide to Scottish art' - Bendor Grosvenor
'Goudie narrates the bold transformation in creativity across the millennia with passion ' - Scots Magazine
'This book is aglow with northern lights, well seen a rich achievement conveys with enthusiasm and feeling what it is to live deep within the story of Scottish art. In that it is invaluable ' - Literary Review
'[Goudie] has an enthusiastic way of expanding upon the human aspects of long-dead artists and connecting us with their inner process. It stems from a pure belief in the power and joy of painting This really is the success of The Story of Scottish Art it is written by someone who is first and foremost a painter' - Artists & Illustrators
'The quality of reproduction is excellent and the colours vibrant [] The book feels as substantial physically as its contents undoubtedly are and is a genuine pleasure to handle' - Artbookreview.net
'Passionate and personal' - World of Interiors
'A beautiful and compelling account' - The Scottish Field

Author Bio

Lachlan Goudie is a Scottish painter and arts broadcaster. He has presented many BBC TV programmes including Mackintosh: Glasgows Neglected Genius, Painting the Holy Land and The Story of Scottish Art.