Dazzling, beautiful, powerful, mysterious – the Sun has fascinated people throughout history. This book charts our changing understanding of the Sun through a rich collection of scientific imagery: from from a 10th-century manuscript drawing of an earth-centred universe, to awe-inspiring close-ups of our turbulent star taken by orbiting spacecraft. Each image tells a story of evolving scientific understanding and techniques, as well as the personal dedication of the theologians, artists and astronomers who made them.

Contents: Foreword; Introduction; The sun and planets; The solar surface; Eruptions; Sunlight; Eclipsed; Glossary; Further reading.

Published to accompany the special exhibition The Sun: Living with Our Star, running at the Science Museum from 6 October 2018 to 6 May 2019.

The restoration of Stowe House and development of the surrounding estate by Stowe School, allied to work in the landscape gardens by the National Trust, is one of the greatest rescues of a country house ever achieved. The ancestral home of the Temple-Grenvilles came close to demolition in 1920, when the entire site was put up for sale. The formation of Stowe School in 1923 secured a future use that maintained the traditions of the Enlightenment with its unrelenting quest for knowledge and understanding. The past 94 years have seen innovation in land management with the gifting of the gardens to the National Trust and a renovation programme of truly monumental proportions. This major new work details the architectural history of the site, tells the story of the restoration through the words of those most closely involved and demonstrates how the School has continued to build in a sympathetic and harmonious manner that preserves the identity and character of the estate as a whole.

Contents:
Foreword – Andrew Fane; Introduction – John Darlington
Chapter 1: ‘A Work to wonder at – perhaps a Stow’: the significance of the ‘superb mansion’ at Stowe – Jeremy Musson
Chapter 2: The Architectural Development of Stowe House – Michael Bevington
Chapter 3: Restoration – Restoring Magnificence – Nick Morris; The Architect’s View – Jane Kennedy; Plaster and Statues – Trevor Proudfoot; Metalwork – Rupert Harris; Research Decorative Schemes – Patrick Baty; Textile Recreations for the Blue Room – Annabel Westman; Lighting – John Darlington; The Egyptian Hall – John Maddison; The Discovery of the Baroque Wall Paintings on the East Staircase – Rhiannon Clarricoates; The Temple-Grenvilles as Collectors – Anna McEvoy
Chapter 4: Stowe Architecture since 2000 – Anthony Wallersteiner
Notes

"This adaptation for younger readers (Key Stage 2) will introduce them to this classic of world literature and to Babur’s exciting adventures of discovery and conquest." —The School Run
"In a time where we are even more aware of the need for diversity and understanding of other traditions, this will make an excellent addition to any school library." —Margaret Pemberton

"This dynamic retelling of the memoirs of Babur, founder of the Mughal empire and Uzbek national hero, features the triumphs and reverses of his military and political career, with richly coloured illustrations."  —The Guardian

"A perfect introduction to the Baburnama for young readers giving them a flavour of this classic of world literature and Babur’s exciting adventures of discovery and conquest." —Outside in World

The memoirs of Babur (1483–1530), descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur (Tamburlaine) and founder of the mighty Mughal Empire, enjoy worldwide renown as the first true autobiography in Islamic literature and an absorbing account of conquest and wise rule, composed by a man whose erudition and statecraft have elevated him to the status of a national hero in the countries of Central Asia. Babur’s narrative describes not only the battles that propelled him to power, but the people, flora and fauna of the lands he ruled – taking us from Samarkand to Kabul to northern India. Anuradha’s lucid and lively retelling of the Baburnama will introduce this classic of world literature to a new generation of young readers, for whom the story of Babur will serve as both a thrilling adventure and an exemplary tale.

The Story of Babur: Prince, Emperor, Sage is published as the Republic of Uzbekistan undertakes an extensive programme of promoting and communicating its rich cultural heritage both within its own borders and to the rest of the world. The book’s publication will coincide with an exhibition on the Boburid dynasty of the Mughal Empire at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC. This new children’s edition will be available in English, Russian and Uzbek versions, as well as in Braille editions of all three languages.

For ages 7-11 years.

This beautifully illustrated volume highlights the vibrant history and culture of Syria through its exceptional textile production. By presenting a broad range of textiles, created between the 2nd century to the present day, the accessible text reveals Syria’s central role in the development of global art and commerce, and more broadly, the significance of textiles as a form of material culture that reveals complex socio-political narratives. Published 12 years after the conflict in Syria began in 2011, this book underscores efforts to document, preserve, and revitalise Syrian cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Its examination presents new scholarship commissioned from leading archaeologists, textile conservators, art historians, and heritage professionals, and drawn from the knowledge of silk producers, weavers, and other artisans. With exquisite design and an approachable narrative, this thoughtful publication provides a valuable immersive and educational experience to arts professionals, connoisseurs, and the general public.

The luxurious detail and intricacy of Stephen Wilson’s work reveals his deep interest in the intersection between traditional craft and contemporary culture. Blending couture fabrics, digital renderings, 3D-printed sculptures, laser-engraved acrylics and highly detailed embroidery pieces, Wilson’s manipulation of multiple materials produces wholly original works of art. Influenced by pop and street art as well as traditional quilting and handicrafts, he creates each unique piece in his North Carolina studio, using both traditional and modern tools. They often contain millions of stitches and take hundreds of hours to create. His work evokes questions regarding luxury consumerism as he deploys fabrics such as Hermès silk, Chanel wool, and other couture textiles to recreate iconic pop culture images. This elegantly designed volume will be the first full treatment of this masterful artist’s work.

Contents:
Writings: Gallerist’s Statement; Stephen Wilson: Breaking Free; Fabric Fantasies: Stephen Wilson’s Art; Stephen Wilson: A Stitch in Time; Shine a Light When it’s Gray Out; Opulence Reclaimed, Luxury Series; Americana.
Works: Shine a Light When it’s Gray Out; Luxury; Americana; Other Works.

Formerly the official residences of the Tsars, the five buildings that comprise the State Hermitage Museum now house one of the finest art collections in the world. The collection is as vast and rich as its surroundings – ranging from prehistoric artefacts to post-Impressionist masterpieces. Here, renowned Director Mikhail Piotrovsky brings his unique insight and expertise to bear on the collection, presenting us with his highlights from the Museum’s extensive holdings.

Here you will find masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age and the Flemish Baroque, as well as Impressionist, Fauvist and Expressionist collections. The artists on display range from Michelangelo to Matisse via Velazquez, Van Gogh, Rubens and Renoir.

Beautifully illustrated, this guide succeeds in condensing the Museum’s array of treasures and making them accessible to all.

Start with House, Finish with a Collection is the story of how a couple’s use of American art and antiques evolved from furnishing a house into a full-blown passion for collecting. Featuring exquisite examples of Hollingsworth and Morris family furniture, Weber boxes, Pennsylvania clocks and Kirk-Stieff silver, as well as American paintings by the Peale family, Edward Hicks, Edward Redfield and Horace Pippin, this museum-calibre collection reveals a pride in the early American sensibility. The combination of text and extraordinary photographs traces this remarkable journey and demonstrates that life can be more than comfortable living among these collections. The compendium catalogues the diversified and important collection, making this a valuable scholarly reference as well as a reading pleasure.

Stano Filko (1937– 2015) was one of the most important neo-avant-garde artists of the second half of the 20th century. He gave the emerging conceptualism, which became his defining form of art, his very own imprint by using various means of expression, overlapping painting, object and installation. He transformed the fail of utopias and crisis of institutions that he encountered throughout his life into an authentic project of individual mythology, establishing his very own archive in his house/studio in Bratislava.

This monograph publication draws from the results of new research on the first two decades of his oeuvre, while also outlining later developments, giving the international audience a glimpse into the magnitude of the artist’s unique conceptual synthesis. The artist’s outstanding work with the category of time itself as well as his message for the future is getting more and more international recognition posthumously.

The 128 windows of York Minster are the eighth wonder of the world; they illustrate the art and craft of glass painting, extending over nine centuries. York is also an international centre for the study and conservation of stained glass, ensuring its survival into the third millennium.

Sarah Brown introduces the magnificent stained glass at York Minster. She provides an holistic overview, starting with evidence for the glazing of the pre-Conquest Minster and the earliest surviving glazing from the twelfth-century church. She then embarks on an extended tour of the Minster s windows, including the Five Sisters in the north transept, the Rose Window in the south transept, the famous Bell-Founder’s Window in the north nave aisle, the Great West Window, often called the Heart of Yorkshire, and the magnificent Great East Window. A ground plan of the Minster enables every window to be located. This book will situate you inside the Minster itself, and is a must-have for any stained glass enthusiast.

St Cecilia’s Hall is Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall and home to the University of Edinburgh’s world-famous musical instrument collection. Comprising over 500 rare and beautiful instruments from across the globe – many of which are still played as part of the Hall’s lively programme – the collection is housed in the newly refurbished Music Museum. This selection of highlights brings these fascinating instruments to a wider audience than ever.