Between birth and death, many of life's most critical moments occur in hospital, and they deserve to take place in surroundings that match their significance. In this spirit, from the early Renaissance through to the modern period, artists have made immensely powerful work in hospitals across the western world, enhancing the environments where patients and medical staff strive towards better health. Distinguished art historian Richard Cork became fascinated by the extraordinary richness of art produced in hospitals, encompassing work by many of the great masters - Piero della Francesca, Rogier van der Weyden, El Greco, William Hogarth, Jacques-Louis David, Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Fernand Leger, Marc Chagall and Naum Gabo. Cork's brilliant survey discovers the astonishing variety of images found in medical settings, ranging from dramatic confrontations with suffering (Matthias Grunewald at Isenheim) to the most sublime celebrations of heavenly ecstasy (Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in Venice). In the process, he reveals art's prodigious ability to humanize our hospitals, alleviate their clinical bleakness and leave a profound, lasting impression on patients, staff and visitors.
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About the Author
Richard Cork is an award-winning art critic, historian, broadcaster, exhibition curator, and former Professor of Fine Art at Cambridge University and Senior Fellow at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Lisa Jacobi
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can only recommend looking inside this amazing book! I am no art historian but every time I open this densely illustrated book I find reproductions of fascinating paintings, sculptures, buidings that tempt me to read more about them. A definite must have for all art lovers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
unusual subject of great interest-excellently presented
1 May 2012
By Ivor E. Zetler
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I first encountered hospitals as a medical student in the seventies (in Cape Town, South Africa), I was struck by the blandness of the bare white walls in the large wards. This fascinating book demonstrates that hospitals were not always so undecorated. Richard Cork begins his exploration of the subject in Siena in the mid 1400's. The idea that hospital patients might benefit from redemptive surroundings was initially an ancient Greek idea and it was adopted by this enlightened city. As the book progresses we read and see examples of decorations in buildings in other areas of Italy and other European countries
There is an interesting chapter about the Hotel Dieu hospital in the Netherlands which contained a large altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden. Here the wardroom beds were arranged so the patients were guaranteed a view of this awesome work. On Sundays the altarpiece was opened to reveal the Last Judgement as a lesson to display the consequences of evil behaviour! Also written about is Van Gogh's stay in a hospital in Arles.
To enumerate the many varied aspects of hospital art through the ages as presented in this book would require a major essay. Suffice it to say that anyone interested in art and/or history should enjoy this book immensely. There are numerous generously sized, high quality color illustrations of the associated art works. While you may enjoy these illustrations, I suspect you will be compelled to read the text far more than that contained in the average art book.
There is an interesting chapter about the Hotel Dieu hospital in the Netherlands which contained a large altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden. Here the wardroom beds were arranged so the patients were guaranteed a view of this awesome work. On Sundays the altarpiece was opened to reveal the Last Judgement as a lesson to display the consequences of evil behaviour! Also written about is Van Gogh's stay in a hospital in Arles.
To enumerate the many varied aspects of hospital art through the ages as presented in this book would require a major essay. Suffice it to say that anyone interested in art and/or history should enjoy this book immensely. There are numerous generously sized, high quality color illustrations of the associated art works. While you may enjoy these illustrations, I suspect you will be compelled to read the text far more than that contained in the average art book.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great project
3 Feb 2013
By parisNewt
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Cork has done a marvelous job of research and thinking about this neglected specialty. As another reviewer mentions, there is very little art in today's hospitals, and most of it is mediocre. But this was not always the case! A fascinating book.
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