Adam: The Male Figure in Art

The book itself was delivered quickly and in fantastic shape however the book just really sucks. I was hoping for some beautiful artwork featuring men and their figure but honestly they picked some of the ugliest boring art they could find. And with the massive amount of art that exists I don't know why they did that. There are a few good pieces of art in there but the amount of lackluster pieces overshadow them, so it's a real bummer. And I guess I was hoping for too much to buy a book about men without it focusing on their family jewels but here I am with a book full of manly bits.

So many art books are heaving on the images and light on the actual research regarding the subject, but this book has a nice balance. Although there isn't a huge amount of text in the book, it does a good job at throughly explain the various dominant themes concerning the male figure in art.The images are varied and represent each topic/theme very well. As a painter who specifically paints male portraits, it is a very nice coffee table book that has a little research to back up the ample images.The only issue I would say that I have with the book is that it may be in need of a new edition, its been over a decade since this inital release, so dont expect anything regarding any work of the 2000's. But that isn't a criticism of the book, just that its good enough to be worth an update to include an new decade.Good art book for your coffee table on a pretty interesting topic for any art appreciator.

this book seeks to briefly encapsulate the history of the male figure in (western) art. it does a good job of providing a variety of styles and media, and the images are always very interesting. also, as a dancer, it is fascinating to note how the body becomes more and more realistic as anatomy is more fully studied and understood. it is a great resource for those interested in this branch of art history, as well as those who are interested in the way culture has looked at the male body.

Given Lucie-Smith's vast experience in the field, I expected a more definitive work on the male figure in the history of art. I found it to be much short of that. The scholarship and the illustrations just don't measure up to anything like a seminal statement on the subject. In fact, there are many instances when the choice of illustrations is inexplicable. This is not a book that I have kept for my art library.

Excelent book. Very important for who wants to study the male figure in art.

It was a nice book with lots of pretty pictures.

Very pleased

Adam; The Male Figure in Art by Edward Lucie-Smith sets out to explore how artists have perceived and represented man as a subject in every form of the arts. With his characteristic enthusiasm and wit Lucie-Smith offers enough treasures of painting, sculpture, photography, murals from Egypt and Rome and Greece to satisfy even the most avid art historian. It is a pleasure to discover young contemporary artists along side the ancients and the grand masters. This is a potpourri, a delectable, energetic voyage that begs frequent return visits. A must from the current coffee table art book selection for the holidays! Grady Harp, December 17

The book is mostly peppered with illustrations and artworks both simple and grand to define the various ways the male gender(especially the physical body) has been depicted in art. It is also somewhat of a telling allegory of the evolution of the portrayal of the nude and/or sexualised male form in art and media throughout the ages, and what this possibly means for society.