Great Art Explained : The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces

From Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus to Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed, curator and popular YouTuber James Payne explores thirty masterpieces from around the world, offering accessible and entertaining insights into their magic.

Art appreciation made accessible, relevant and entertaining; writer, curator and YouTuber James Payne demystifies great works of art.

Based on the popular and enormously successful YouTube channel of the same name, Great Art Explained unveils the fascinating stories behind some of the world’s most iconic paintings and sculptures, proving that there’s more to art than just watching paint dry. It can be thrilling, if you give it a chance. It is how you view the work, place it in context and understand its history that makes an artwork truly come alive.

A fresh approach to a classic subject, James Payne’s no-nonsense analysis sheds new light on thirty different masterpieces from around the globe and reveals what makes them truly timeless works of art. Each chapter delves into not only the art itself but also the artist’s life, as well as the work’s place in their wider oeuvre; in other words, what makes it ‘great’. From Hilma af Klint’s occult altarpieces to Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus to Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed, each artwork is explored with clarity and passion.

Whether a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this book promises to deepen your appreciation and enrich your understanding of some of the world’s greatest treasures.

MEDIA REVIEWS

'James Payne’s YouTube Channel “Great Art Explained” gained a huge and appreciative worldwide audience. This beautifully put-together book is simply the best introduction to the lifelong pleasure and rewards of looking at pictures since Gombrich. An instant classic' - Stephen Fry

'A beautifully persuasive work to remind you to look a little longer and to be enchanted by the stories each work can hold. It tells us not to be afraid of art and what it can do to us – it will transform the walls around you' - Robin Ince

'Like walking through an ambitious museum...in which visual examples are accompanied by a gifted narrator who provides a voice-over which gives information picture-by-picture... What I find most masterful in Payne’s account is his uncanny ability to move swiftly from one example to the next one, in a way that builds upon the support of full large, excellent color plates. In his hands, thirty works provide an instructive perspective on world art history' - David Carrier, Counterpunch

'Beautifully and generously illustrated on good quality, heavy, glossy paper, it’s a substantial tome that certainly does fulfil its apparent aim of being an art primer for the beginner. Once you get inside, James takes your interest seriously and explains artists, techniques, themes and movements in straightforward language, managing to be both quick and thorough at the same time' - ArtBookReview

'Payne writes as he speaks with a calm, clear and compelling voice … His eye for detail is matched only by his gift for storytelling … This is art history without jargon, but never without depth' - Artlyst

'‘[A] colorful survey of 30 artworks… The breadth of works highlighted, combined with Payne's knack for condensing massive amounts of biographical, historical, and technical information, makes this an excellent introduction. Art lovers will be entranced' - Publishers Weekly

'The book follows the same plain-speaking approach as his films, steering clear of jargon and academic detours. Instead, Payne aims to explain why certain works have endured, and how they continue to resonate across cultures and centuries' - Art Plugged

'A handheld museum. What an amazing introduction to some of the world’s most iconic artworks' - Craig Burnett