My top 5 books for 2025

Strictly speaking, my 'books' are not all 'books' this year. Books about contemporary art and artists are almost out of date by the time they are printed so I have seldom found them to be worth investing in for me reference (inspiration) shelf. Books about artists of the past can also go out of date as cultures, politics and historic research progresses.

When I was studying for 'A' level art in 1972-3, the E, H, Gombrich 'A History of Art' was, pretty much, the authority on art and artists, art movements and art treasures of Europe. The pictures were 95% in black and white, there was little mention of world art and knowledge about the lives of some of the most famous artists of the Renaissance (for instance) was very basic. I learned that Michelangelo painted the Sistine chapel ceiling single-handedly, spending years on his back atop a wooden scaffold. In fact, of course, he actually had an army of assistants helping him over the years. It is also said that his wealth surpassed that of some of the aristocracy. Who knew?!

This year