Famous Works of Art and How They Got that Way

Art historian Nici considers some of the world’s most revered pieces of art and the “peculiar—and often inexplicable” circumstances that contributed to their current significance. These include the 1922 discovery of the ancient Egyptian tomb of King Tutankhamun, which benefited from press coverage stimulating the public’s interest, and the steady rise in prominence of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa over centuries, further enhanced by its 1911 theft. The statue Winged Victory sat in the Louvre “friendless and unnoticed” before a mere change in location to the grand central staircase made it a visitor favorite. Nici outlines the controversy surrounding Manet’s Luncheon on the Grass, criticized by the stodgy French Salon, but lauded by more liberal impressionists. Van Gogh is lionized for his cult of personality and tortured history boldly on display in Starry Night, and Grant Wood’s American Gothic is noted for its “ambiguity of form and interpretation,” evident in arguments over the artist’s sincerity. Nici also recalls Andy Warhol’s explosion into celebrity via the Campbell’s soup prints and the multiple controversies surrounding the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by 21-year-old Yale undergraduate Maya Lin. Viewing the artistic material through the angle of fame is a unique approach and Nici provides ample and accessible theory, interpretation, and historical context to make this an interesting and educational read. (Sept.)