The Art of Looking Up

Probably it is not easy to visit all these beautiful places in person, but one can wonder at the beauty in the world, gazing at these detailed pictures. It is almost like you can touch them and imagine being surrounded by a frieze, stain glass painting.

How poetic - the meaning of looking up and what it means to humanity - ceiling originf from caelum - sky or heaven. Next time you see surrounded open space, see the sky in it. Reminds me of the sky ceiling in Caesar Palace,Vegas. (illusory sky - quadratura from another painting)

Salvador Dali, Palace of the Wind

Gender aspect of the forgotten women painters.

You find out about the details of the painting, the challenges faced by the painters when it came to for exa - depicting 'living water'.

'weight bearing columns modelled on the hyperbolic paraboloids of tree trunks and their branches' of Sagrada Familia. Do the trees have that pattern, so they can hold the sky?

This book opens your eyes to ceiling sin many other parts of the world - Turkey, Japan.

Didnt know that Gustav Klimt did a ceiling painting.

What better place than a library to have a ceiling painting? Sweden Metrostations.

Toluca Botanical Gardens are amazing.

You might have seen Chihuly's ceiling in Bellagio.

Mocarabes honeycomb work like stalactites and stalagmites of cave.

Havent heard of badal mahal before.

Quadro riportato

And now, you can start 'looking up to this book'.

A beautiful argument and thorough analysis on the art and practice of looking up. “For the sky binds us to our planet but also presents a boundary that we long to break through.” The author provides an excellent art history lesson focused on teh various pieces featured in this book with the specific intent and focus around teh dynamics and context of the time period in which they were commissioned. The pictures are absolutely stunning to look at, even without the history and context, one could find joy in looking at these works of art for hours! There are plenty of pieces that if you are well traveled or knowledgeable in art history you will likely already know, but, this does not take away from the joy of reading this book or taking a detailed look at the high definition pictures on every page. A picture is worth 1000 words, the religious, cultural, political and social context of the times these works were commissioned can cover an entire book on their own. There is something for everyone to take away from this book, bound to be more detailed closeups, or new pieces to learn about, details on a work you did not know, and many perspectives and thoughts on the context of the works above us.

The colors and geometric shapes and quality of the architecture and throughtfulness of the design alongside the skill of the artists that envisioned these works is outstanding and makes for a fascinating read! The religious and symbolic context of art upon high is certainly the easiest connection realized in Art History 101, but some of the cultural reasons were interesting to me, too! I had always thought they recreated venues to mimic the old style of the renaissance, for example to show a particular theme or or protract a particular message about the venue. How surprised I was that theater halls occasionally put art on the ceiling for the wandering eyes of distracted visitors. Or casinos as a method to keep gamblers spending, akin to tactics of no clocks or windows, beautiful ceiling art!

The art is absolutely stunning and the high definition photos in this book are incredible. If you have been to any of these locations you will feel as though you are standing there again. If you have not yet had the opportunity to experience in person, the photography truly represents the colors, size, depth and scale, a true visual dessert!

Absolutely stunning book, full of full-color photos of art that can only be seen by Looking Up. There’s a beautiful metaphor here, along with detailed and fascinating historical background notes on each piece of art. The art is divided into four categories: religious, politics, culture, power.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The photographs featured in this book are beautifully and skillfully captured and edited and complimented by top notch book design that lets the images take center stage.

I’m an award winning portrait photographer who has always loved architectural photography, but never been any good at it. The photographs in this book are captured with extraordinary skill. I imagine there were a lot of wide-angle lenses in use, but lens warping (an inevitable artifact caused by the construction of wide-angle lenses) has been expertly edited out. Special attention has also been paid to making sure the images appear on the page in a way that showcases the absolute symmetry of the architecture. This is a deceptively difficult thing to achieve. I suspect someone spent a lot of time with the perspective crop tool in PhotoShop to achieve this feat.

The elimination of lens warping in the images is so consistent, that when it does appear, it’s distracting. I found myself googling the Palazzo Faranese and looking at the overhead satellite view of the structure to see if it was indeed barrel shaped, or if the image on pages 188-189 didn’t get the same editing treatment as others in this book.

It’s also worth noting the lighting in these photographs. Ceilings that feature a mix of warm incandescent lighting and “cool” sunlight coming in from windows pose a unique challenge for photographers shooting on digital cameras due to the relative “temperatures” of the lighting mix. It’s very difficult to balance these extremes, and yet all of the photos in this collection are well exposed. The brightest areas aren’t washed out, and the darkest areas don’t suffer any loss of discernible detail.

The photo on page 22-23 of the mosaics of the Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in Russia is an absolute triumph.

The collection is divided into four sections: Religion, Culture, Power, and Politics. Each section is fairly Western European-centric, but there is at least one treasure from the East and the Americas in each section. The conspicuous lack of works from non European countries could be a function of there not being a cultural tradition of decorative ceilings or it could be difficulty in traveling to those locations to photograph them due to political instability, but the reasons why the book focuses on European artworks is never addressed in the text.

The introductions to the individual artworks provide a good overview of the history of each, its context in overall art history, and its continued cultural significance. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the materials used in the construction and decoration of the works and the detailing of how the works have changed and evolved over time with restoration and alterations. I also appreciate the mix of close detail shots and wider shots that give a strong sense of place to the artworks being featured.

One final note: The lack of female artists represented in the collection is addressed in the introduction, but briefly and, in my opinion, inadequately. It simply states that the lack of women in the art form of ceiling decoration “raises interesting questions”. These questions are not actually expressed, let alone answered. This is hardly “honoring” them as the introduction states.

Whenever humankind seejs some help it looks towards sky.
And when in deep hopelessness it looks downwards.
Every religion and culture teaches to look towards heavens in tough times.
Religious dones and ceilings serve as beautiful canvases and tell many stories.

This book solidifies the same claim.

It is a picture cum coffee table book cum historical manual.

It takes us to journey of world's greatest domes and their special art.
Domes in different countries and at different locations; like churches, offices, historical monuments and palaces.
Italy features prominently.

All pictures are great and realistic and each dome is described in fine detail.

Indian Badal palace dome also finds mention.
Japan and China feature once.

Their are interesting stories entwined with descriptions. It is a holistic brochure of all significant and important domes ever created.
A rare book on a rare but important aesthetic topic.
If you ate an art lover and want to choose one of your next touring spot, you need to check this work.

Thanks Quarto books and netgalley for review copy.

Catherine McCormack's The Art of Looking Up is a gorgeous, often thrilling look at some of the most stunning ceilings around the world. I was excited to see some that I had already experienced first-hand, and at least three that I've added to my list of must-see stops on my Italy-Spain trip next year. The photography and narration in this book is beautifully done. I really loved the inclusion of a vast variety of styles and materials (in the ceiling choices) selected for this volume. Sadly, I will probably never see, in person, one of my favorites here (the mosaic in Iran) so I'm very grateful have had this chance to experience it here. I hope many lovers of world travel and art find this book, as well as parents looking for interesting books to share with their children. We all would benefit, no matter where we are to take a moment, a breath, open our eyes and look up. Look all around- so much beauty in the world that we can easily miss.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It’s true that to see, in real life, many of the wonders featured in this book a degree on neck contortion is required. I’ve visited a number of the buildings featured here and to appreciate the most dramatic element on show you have to look up. Unfortunately, on at least a couple of occasions I seem to have, at least partially, missed out. At the Sistine Chapel in Rome the ceiling is so high I found it hard to fully appreciate the detail of the amazing paintings (and note that anyone trying to take a photograph was immediately ushered out) and at the Sangrada Familia in Barcelona ongoing construction work partially obscured efforts to fully admire the amazing work above. But in this book the superbly detailed photographs fully display the staggering beauty on show in these buildings and in a wide range of others across the world.

The photographs are amazing, both the large overviews and the detailed breakdowns. Colours are vividly captured and the overall result is, at times, mind blowing. It definitely inspired a desire in me to visit a number of these sites at some point. My favourites include the subterranean art displayed across the walls and ceilings in Stockholm’s Metro Stations and the ceramic tiles covering virtually every surface in the Imam Mosque at Asafan, Iran. Many of the images included in this book have a religious context, but some scenes are political in nature and others are hard to categorise. An informative text accompanies each. I was viewing an electronic version but I’d imagine a hard copy of this book would be a wonderful item to own and peruse at your leisure.

The Art of Looking Up truly opened my eyes to a new place of art. I know my own capital building had art in its portico but I didn't realize it was something that was done else where.
Catherine McCormack walks through places all over the world and shows you what's on eth ceiling. Don't worry, this isn't just some trek through churches; while the religious buildings are spotlighted, there are many tehri types of building with art. You get to see political building as well as tunnels through Sweden.
The art is more than just the master's of classical art. McCormack spotlights a b=variety of styles and mediums.
After reading this book, I will make sure not to just look left and right, but I will also look up!

A brilliant collection of stunning photos in a very interesting and fascinating book. I spent a long time lost in the beauty of the photos. It felt like a privilege to look at this book. I have a few friends who would love a paper copy and I think it would make an amazing Christmas present.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This book is a gem. Besides being incredibly beautiful and filled with impressive pictures of even more impressive ceilings, it makes up for a wonderful collection of short stories on history and art. It gives you a glimpse in the world and lives of people who were the creators of those fantastic ceilings we get to wonder at either on the TV or in person and ti helps us understand what we are looking at.

Art is beautiful and architecture is fascinating ( I should know, I am an architect) but understanding the story, the events, the technique and all the elements that went in the creation of that object we admire is crucial both to our perception of it and to its perceived value.

This book is a must have for anyone who delights in history, politics, art, architecture and design! I would - and will- buy this for myself and I would definitely get this as a gift for family and friends!

For anyone interested in art and the history behind it, this is a must read! Catherine McCormack takes readers around the world showcasing stunningly beautiful art only seen by looking up.

The intricate detail and work involved in these artworks is amazing. Equally interesting is the history behind each of the pieces. Divided into sections of Religion, Culture, Power & Politics, McCormack's information helps the reader see things in the artwork that would remain hidden without her explanations.

It is well worth investing your time to read this book, and see wonders you may not get to see otherwise!

Many thanks to NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

What a gorgeous book! Beautiful pictures and interesting information about all sorts of wonderful ceilings. The subjects range from churches to casinos and everything in between, all over the world.

It's a fascinating book!

This book is beautiful, the pictures inside are magnificent and there is a good amount of information included as well. An excellent classroom resource to use as starting point for history or geographic enquiry.

This is a beautiful book, the pictures are breathtaking and the information is informative yet concise.
My Favorites were;
The Metro Stations in Sweden and The Royal Palace of Brussels, Belgium

It was really interesting to see and read about beautiful places from all around the world and my heart would jump a little when I would see pictures of a location I have visited.

This would be a great for someone who loves art, travel, history, architecture, photography... it has a little something for everyone.

I loved this book. Like lots of us I love to visit historic houses and always look in wonder at the intricate decorations that not only decorate the walls but also the ceilings. This coffee table book has varied mix of ceilings from not only historic buildings but also some very modern locations which are beautiful. This is a book not to be hidden on a bookshelf!

Beautiful photography! I look forward to seeing this in the final print version. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

Beautifully illustrated this book give an interesting perspective at looking at important buildings.
The Art of Looking Up surveys 40 spectacular ceilings around the globe that have been graced by the brushes of great artists including Michelangelo, Marc Chagall and Cy Twombly.

What stunning book full of absolutely gorgeous photos of beautiful art all around us- specifically ceilings. This book opened my eyes to how much beauty we are surrounded by and may be missed. I enjoyed the explanations that came along with the pictures. There are many places added to my bucket list now that would be an absolute delight to see in real life. Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing for an ARC review in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my! What a sumptuous book. The photography is mind blowing, the describing thoroughly interesting and at times my mouth was hanging open. Superb, the book is now on my wants list. Phew!

An excellent book full of amazing pictures. I liked the explanations and I loved the photos.
I think this book will be great in paper.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Wow. Just...wow.

As amazing as these photos looked on my phone, they must be all the more incredible within the confines of a hardback copy, and breathtaking in person (I've only been to one of the places featured in this work). This is a near-immeasurably useful aid in assigning context/appreciation to these ceilings, many of which have so many different stories to tell--speaking of which, the brief history descriptions that accompany the photos are very well done, as they take up minimal area, stay massively informative, and shed light on why they're in the book.

Covering many buildings across the categories of religion, culture, politics, and power, you're treated to at least one jaw-dropping image per entry. I'd be curious to know if there were some visits that didn't make the final cut for whatever reason.

There's no telling how many times you could flip through these pages and find something new to appreciate; furthermore, with the benefit of McCormack's work, you can calmly survey the paintings for yourself, examining the details, as I'm sure many of the opportunities to tour these sites would present their own problems (neck cramps, time constraints, strained eyesight).

I really can't praise this enough. Simply put: What a cool book. It provides the reader the opportunity to seriously enjoy some art they otherwise wouldn't get a close-up of.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and White Lion Publishing for the advance read.

The Art of Looking Up by Catherine McCormack is more than just an art history book. This work is a showpiece that will take your breath away as you turn each page. The images captured in the book demonstrate the incredible ability of mankind to create lasting beauty. Each work is followed by a detailed history of the artist, the location, and the process of creation. This book would be a perfect gift or a coffee table book for your home or office.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley

My favorite church in Montreal, if not the whole world, is Norte-Dame-de-Bon-Secours. In part, it is because of the life of its founder, but there is a simplicity in the chapel as well that makes the faith more secure, solid, physical. It’s true that it lacks something that the grand Notre Dame of Montreal has – the stunning ceiling. The Notre Dame ceiling is like a night sky, and it helps to make the interior of the building stunning. One does wonder, periodically, how many people actually notice it.

Luckily, we have Catherine McCormack’s excellent book to make up the difference. This beautiful edition contains stunning photographs as well as brief history and information about the various places included in the book. The longest section of text is the introduction, which includes a discussion of the absence of women artists.

The book is divided into different sections based on the purpose of the various buildings. The sections are Religion, Culture, Power, and Politics. The power section is primary royal residences, and culture includes theaters and museums

It is to McCormack’s credit that the book is varied in the various places. While some might quibble about the various choices, McCormack choses a good variety of places that are from far more than Europe. The religion section in particular includes far more than Christianity, which is nice. But I think the best inclusion was the Metro Stations of Sweden, a nice choice of something that many people would have totally ignored.

When I came back from Europe a few years ago I had more than a few photos of various ceilings from all the places I visited, so many years later looking through those pictures I couldn't really understand why I had so many. This book reminded me why.
And that's because the attention to detail in all these locations is amazing. Looking at the pictures in this book reminded me of the feeling of pure awe when you walk through these places.
I don't use the word "gorgeous" all that often but that's exactly what the pictures in this book are.

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing for a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of ‘The Art of Looking Up’ by Catherine McCormack in exchange for an honest review.

This is another sumptuous book by White Lion in which art historian Catherine McCormack surveys 40 fine art ceilings from around the world.

In four sections dedicated to Religion, Culture, Power, and Politics McCormack provides the stories behind the artworks, including their histories and the artists involved in the projects. It includes a wealth of stunning full-colour photographs of the ceilings including their details.

I was especially drawn to the ceilings in the Culture section including the Metro Stations of Stockholm, Sweden and the Palais Garnier, France decorated by Marc Chagall. The ceiling of the Dali Theatre-Museum in Catalonia was also very striking and effectively represented Dali’s surrealism.

A book that would make a beautiful and unusual gift.

Such a beautiful book. Visually stunning. A joy to have and to hold. It takes a close, detailed look at 40 of the worlds’ most spectacular and impressive ceilings. The author introduces each one and explains its genesis, history and execution in an accessible and readable way. The usual suspects, such as the Sistine Chapel, are featured, as you might expect but there are many surprises here too – from the Chihuly celling in the Ballagio Hotel in Las Vegas to the ceilings in the metro stations in Sweden. The photography is superb, and the illustrations are wonderfully detailed. The great delight with the book is that you can look at the ceilings in far greater detail than you can in real life, so that any visit to the actual building will be enhanced. And what a way for the armchair traveller to see these wonderful ceilings close-up. A book to treasure.

The photos in this book are so incredibly beautiful, and I also enjoyed the accompanying text. There are four categories-religious, culture, power, and politics. There are many locations in this book that you'd expect and some other lesser-known ceilings. The geographic diversity of the locations is also appreciated. This book would be an excellent coffee-table book or gift for a friend.

Sumptuous and nuanced!

Firstly I was sold on the very simple, yet clever title. I immediately related to it. Some of my more fabulous architectural and artistic encounters have happened in that 'looking up' moment.
Years after visiting them, I remember some of the places mentioned here, the amazing juxtaposition that happens when looking up and through one space into another. This book speaks so eloquently to these experiences. As with those wonderfully painted vaulted columns in The Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, St Petersburg; or captured so perfectly in the photos of the Iman Mosque in Iran; and the astounding double page ceiling shot of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona.
How can you not gasp aloud as your whole body opens up into the 'starry vault' of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris? And then there's the "mesmerizing" blue of Cy Twombly's, The Ceiling, in the Louvre?
This book is a celebratory treat beckoning memories, inspiring visits to unseen places, and encouraging us to appreciate masterful works.
McCormick's research and understandings show the depth of her scholarship. Her narrative balances informatively against the visual representations. Indeed the opening paragraph in the Introduction sets the scene, reminding us, indeed calling us to look beyond ourselves.
A vivid and informative presentation.

A Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion Publishing ARC via NetGalley

As always, this type of lush art book is badly suited to the PDFs used by NetGalley. This particular one has each double-page spread set out as one page, meaning that in order to read the text you have to zoom in, and in order to look at the pictures in any detail you have to move the pages around manually. As such, this review assumes that the book would be read as a large-format hardcover or paperback - it deserves to be seen properly, not in a fiddly PDF.

That being said, this is a lovely book that provides some stunning images of some of the most beautiful and interesting ceiling artwork in the world. There's a bias towards Italian art, certainly, but buildings from Japan, Russia, Ethiopia and more are also included. With each ceiling there is a selection of wide-angle and detail photos, and a potted history of the creation of the artwork, which is well-written and easy to read. This would be a great gift for art or architecture lovers.

This was a very interesting book, filled with beautiful photos along with all of the history behind the 40 ceilings included in this book. Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in the history behind some of the most famous buildings and ceilings in the world.

The world of travel and tourism will have to shift its tour model. No longer will tourists walk through a venue. Roll out a pallanquin with a moon roof or a reclining curricle. The Art of Looking Up celebrates works of amazing art that truly captivate the visitor on the ceilings of the world. A journey that will enhance, inform, and mesmorize. Maybe a robotic omnibus with horizontal designer platforms? Discover some of the most intriguing works of art that take more than a few minutes to explore. This production could be a virtual reality coup.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book to review.

Fantastic book - absolutely stunning! I was expecting a beautiful coffee table book with it's usual centre page spreads and boring synopsis on each page but what I got was much, much more....It opened the world of artworks for me and I learnt so much. One of the best art books I have seen in a long while. I bought a copy for my college's art library straight away.

A really nice look at a few places around the globe - even though the main focus is in Europe, but does go into Asian and once in America. At the start, you do get some information about the place/ceiling and then about six images - one covering two pages. It does categorize them into different sections - religion, culture, power and politics which is cool to see.

Beautiful photographs! I had no idea there were so many beautiful ceilings in the world. I would love to be able to see this in real life, but the book came really close!

What a brilliant idea for a book. 40 spectacular ceilings from around the world and you don't have to get neck ache to see them. Obviously it is better to see things in real life - or is it? The photographs in the book get you so close to the art work, nearer than you could see in real life. The sumptuous photographs are just beautiful.

I think this is a book to have on the coffee table and if you feel a little blue or the weather isn't nice, just take a peek inside, you will be feeling so much better immediately. I really can't emphasis enough how wonderful the photographs are.

Some are from buildings I have only seen from outside and so the glimpse inside is amazing. One is of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona which one day I would love to see, but this must be the next best thing or better. Such a close up of the details and a wonderful explanation of it too. For this is not just a book of photographs, descriptions and background are provided too in great detail.

I'm truly inspired by this book, both creatively and also to visit these amazing places, of which most I knew nothing of previously.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

What a beautiful book, full of photographs of beautiful ceilings throughout the world, divided into four sections of Religion, Culture, Power and Politics. The ceiling range from as far back as the 1500 to more resent of 2000, all are beautiful and has information of where they are, who created them and time.
All the ceilings are very beautiful and very thought provoking, There are some which are definitely on my bucket list to see in person, ravelling in the exquisite work and skills of the creators, whilst laying on the floor and looking up.

This book is stunning. It’s absolutely a must have purchase in hardback, but being able to zoom in is quite amazing. This book has quickly become an addition to my ever expanding collection of inspirational travelling opportunities. Simply stunning.

First: points for the deeply clever name. Also, the deeply clever everything else.

Recommended: yes!
For an interesting look at civilizations around the world past and present, for an interesting subset of art that can fuel your travel plans, for art and/or history buffs

Thoughts:
The whole reason I wanted to read this is because I am constantly looking up (figuratively and literally) and I tend to notice interesting things and then think to myself, "I bet so many people never look up at see this interesting thing." This is a whole book written by someone who likely does the same thing, but can blend that passing curiosity with detailed historical and artistic notes with a writing style that anyone can enjoy and get a laugh out of.

The art is stunning, that's easy to note. But the truly impressive aspect is the deep dive into so many aspects of the art: the process of creation; the historical, religious, political, and cultural significance; the story behind its creation. I learned a lot of humanizing bits of history here. I was impressed with the writing style, as each introduction to a new piece started off with a story that pulled me in and made me invested in every detail of the art.

That's not to overlook the quality of the photos within though. They are truly stunning, and this would be a great book to have a copy of just to flip through on any day for a boost of beauty. My absolute favorite within - that I'm kicking myself for missing when I traveled there a year ago - was the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, that has a ceiling and chandelier made of of scarab beetle wings. It sounds bizarre, and it looks COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE.

The only thing bringing this down from 5 stars were the references and terms that were unexplained, typically relating to specific artistic or architectural techniques. Maybe I'm not the intended audience here, but just be ready if you aren't already somewhat educated in these terms that there will be moments in the description that leave you kind of glazed and unsure.

Thanks to NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful book for architecture,art and photography’s lovers, really a pleasure for the eyes.

40 different ceilings from around the world are presented with the aid of beautiful and spectacular pictures. Divided into religion,power,culture and politics section, the reader is transported into the world of wonderful art.

A special treat and a precious itinerary taking the readers by hands and guiding them to discover some of the most beautiful places of art worldwide.

A beautifully photographed and presented book! I have always been fascinated by the beautiful ceilings in the Vatican. I look at the work done by Michelangelo and wonder how? How did he do it? I have studied it for years, and am still fascinated.
The author also included the U.S. Capitol, which I have also marveled at.
And, so many more! I now have so many more locations on my bucket list to visit. Until then, I can marvel at the photos in this book.
Thank you, Catherine McCormack!

4.5 stars.

Each ceiling chosen was incredibly stunning and beautiful! There were a few that I didn't know existed and ceilings aren't usually what people look at except when the place is famous for it.

The book was divided in 4 parts: religion, culture, power and politics. Each art took around 3-5 pages with pictures and a condensed history and explanation for each ceiling art. There was a brief history of art in the beginning and it mentions how sexist it used to be.

Overall, I enjoyed reading through this though I felt bored at times with how it dragged on in the history. Another problem I had was the text would cut off and continue two pages later (which was annoying to go up and down with the digital copy because I kept forgetting how the sentence ended).

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

This was a fascinating book. It was fun to see all the ceilings etc without getting dizzy, A beautiful coffee table book.

"Why do we look up? In childhood we look up for reassurance, guidance and a model of the future that awaits us. As humans we are hierarchical and believe that the higher up something is, the greater its importance, and we consequently tend to desire things that are tantalizingly out of reach. As humanity we have looked up to the sky above us to understand our place in the universe, using the constellations of the stars to chart our voyages. In looking up we reflect on our gods and construct the stories of our creation."


The Art of Looking Up is an absolutely fascinating book about the most beautiful and awe-inspiring ceilings in the world. If you're an avid traveler, an admirer of beauty and art, or simply like to look up, this is the book for you.

Separated by topic (Religion, Power, Politics, etc.) the book takes us on a mesmerizing journey through the most masterful creations of humans. I've always loved painted and frescoed ceilings, so The Art of Looking Up was an absolute treat for me.

The book not only shows pictures of the chosen list of ceilings, but also manages in a small amount of space to give the basic history behind the particular piece, as well as a short explanation of its symbolism. This was truly delightful for me, as even though I like looking at ceilings, I don't necessarily understand all the things the artists were trying to portray. And apparently, that's not even that uncommon, as in the chapter about Venice's Palazzo Ducale it was mentioned that in order to explain that particular ceiling they created a booklet of 128 pages or so, way back in the 16th century. Funnily enough, that happens to be the only ceiling in the book that I've actually seen in person.

Having read this book though, I will definitely try to visit some of the places mentioned, specifically because of the book and the mentioned ceilings. I absolutely fell in love with another Venetian ceiling, the San Pantalon Church, which I missed during my two trips to Venice, no thanks to the unassuming facade of the church, I guess.

Therefore, this goes at the top of my list of things to do next time in Venice (as I'm sure I'll go again, Venice being one of my favourite cities).

Additionally, the book goes beyond Europe, to places I'm a lot less likely to ever visit, which made them even more enchanting, such as the Debre Berhan Selassie Church in Ethiopia or the Badal Mahal in Rajastan.

The title doesn't lie--this is a book of truly high art that happens to be high up on the ceilings of various places. From Klimt to Chihuly, the works of many famous artists are featured. The book is divided into four kinds of ceilings: those made for religion, culture, power, or politics, although of course there is some overlap on those categories! The artworks are located everywhere from Las Vegas to Japan, although the majority do seem to come from Italy, France, and Turkey.

From a technical standpoint, the works are beautifully photographed, allowing you to appreciate the natural lighting conditions while still seeing all the amazing detail of the art. This would be a lovely gift for a travel buff or art lover.

This a beautifully designed book, with amazing art and informative commentary.

I do find this a bit difficult to rate though.
The book should be found on a coffee table, and flipped through when chance decides, taking in the beauty and respective information as and when curiosity demands. Or perhaps as a travel companion, possibly referenced before a trip (might be a bit hefty to lug with you). Lastly it’s target market seems to be ‘extreme’ art history enthusiasts and not just casual appreciators of art (at least that is my opinion after finding myself continually reading sentences that had references and descriptions that were definitely beyond my level of appreciation). Most importantly, it needs to be enjoyed in its physical form as the digital equivalent does not do it justice.

Thank you NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for a review copy.

A very informative book with such beautiful photos! It was interesting to learn more about such famous sites, and add more to my list to see.

Do you look up when you are inside? This book has made me think more about viewing the ceilings wherever I go. There is so much to see there; sometimes the sights are beautiful, sometimes they may be symbolic or there to make a point.

This excellent volume begins by making the case for why one looks up. There are connections to the celestial, and definitely to religion in many instances. The reader learns that ceilings make statements whether they are religious, political or a reflection of power or culture. Each of these areas has its own section in this lavishly photographed and informative title. Just a few of the sites that are included are The Vatican Palace, the Imam Mosque, the Louvre, the subway stations of Stockholm, Blenheim Palace and the U.S. Capitol.

I learned a lot while reading this book. I enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world and learning more about different cultures based on what they hope to inspire in those who visit their sites.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

A really distinctive art appreciation book, for we're forever looking up – at the more noted and artistic ceilings of our culture. Made of glass or concrete, showing endless trompe l'oeil putti or the abstract godly nothingness of the Islamic, they are all varied, and they all have a great effect on the witness to them way below at ground level. (And if they don't, it's because they're actually at ground level and we're way beneath that.) Lovely illustrations prove that all these are well worth a look in real life, and in fact some of the accompanying essays are too brief and introductory, meaning that yes, you will want to put these ceilings on your bucket list. Still, itchy feet regardless, and knowing of no other similar book, this really does do very well for now. If anything I wanted some of the architecture to be included – what for a magnificent domed decoration without the dome itself – but the balance of the book, solely in favour of the symbolism and history of the art, is still greatly interesting. Four and a half stars.

The Art of Looking Up is a truly incredible book whether you are a lover of art or not. It is broken into four main parts, religion, culture, power, and politics. Within each part you will see some of the most amazing painted ceilings from all over the world. For each one the author discusses the symbolism of the art and its role throughout history. The photography of the artwork is simply stunning! I'd tell you my favourite one, but there are just too many that I love to choose from. No need to travel the world to see these famous ceilings. From the intricate patterns in the Imam Mosque, to Michelangelo's ceiling in the Vatican Palace, to the awe inspiring Tuluca Botanical Gardens in Mexico, this book brings them right into your home. Simply amazing! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An interesting take on art, showing views of ceilings of famous buildings. The narrative focuses on different aspects behind the art such as politics and religion. The photography is excellent. Would be a nice hostess gift or coffee table book.

I'm a klutz. Because of that I keep my eyes lowered to avoid embarrassing falls. This absolutely glorious book shows me how much beauty I potentially miss.
Way back when, a great deal of pride and thought was given to erecting buildings. There weren't 'cookie cutter' edifices on every corner. Artwork was deliberate and often difficult as painting ceilings is painstakingly hard work.
I found myself swooning over the gorgeous photography throughout the book. That, in itself, must have been quite a task.
This is a book that's ideal for artists or people who long to be reminded of the beauty that still exists from days gone by.
Oh, and although I will always be a klutz - this book has me looking upward more frequently.
Buy this, borrow it from your library, but definitely lose yourself within the pages of this one, even if for a brief time.

There is a saying that human beings, as a whole, tend to not look up when going about their everyday life. Which is a shame, when you think about some of the world's masterpieces and how they were formed on high and beautiful ceilings.
The Art of Looking Up is a collection of photographs featuring the artwork in such places. This book covers forty different ceilings, from all parts of the world and covering all subject matter. This was perhaps the most comprehensive collection I've seen so far. And it was a stunning collection at that.
I especially enjoyed the organization system behind The Art of Looking Up. It's split into four main parts: religion, culture, power, and politics. It was actually interesting, in a way, to see what pieces made it into which category. It was helpful to see each of these groupings, as it allowed me to get into the right mindset for each artstyle and focus. It was elegantly done.
There was so much to be impressed about, in this book. The amount of effort it must have taken to research each and every piece, for example. And then there's the fact that it can't be easy to photograph such massive pieces. But that's what they did, and excellently so. The Art of Looking Up featured some amazing photographs, giving readers a full view of the artwork being discussed. It was, simply put, striking and enlightening.

These ceilings are absolutely beautiful! This book will be appreciated by artists, architects, and anyone who loves beauty.

This book is marked out by its wonderful photography which captures some of the most iconic buildings in the world. Looking at the ceilings and vaulted heights within these structures; dividing them into places of Religion, Culture, Power and Politics.
The title is apt because it is only in gazing beyond our normal perspective that we see the art displayed above our heads.
I remember as a child a competition in our local newspaper to find and identify buildings in the town based on photos above normal street level. It made me realise at a young age we miss so much around us if we never raise our heads.
“Ceilings and domes were frequently used for the telling of religious narratives for those who could not read it in words........”
But I liked the instances of Cultural intervention highlighted in this book as evidenced by Stockholm’s metro system something I have seen at first-hand but better appreciate reading here.
I was also intrigued to realise that art in such buildings can impose a sense of authority and emphasise power, again examples are made across the world.
Finally I had never appreciated the political statements that can be made in government buildings. “A ceiling is the prefect canvas on which to craft a self-styled civic and national identity....”
This linking theme helps create a book with a story rather than just the over bombardment of art and design. It records the development of thinking and the shift in control and needs of the general public.
At school we learn that Michelangelo painting of the Sistine Chapel was to the glory of God in that even parts invisible from below where equally done and finished in their entirety. Something I haven’t always aspired to wallpapering a bedroom. However, this book took me further than these reminiscences and elevated my mind to look up and see art for all its worth and purpose. The interaction of different cultures was also enlightening and I found the book a wonderful destruction to he constraints of a normal day. A true ‘coffee table book’ to treasure and enjoy.

The Art of Looking Up has some beautiful photography. This would make a fantastic gift for the holidays.

As someone who spends more time looking at the architecture of churches rather than the weddings I am attending in them, this book was right up my alley. There’s just something magically about a beautiful ceiling done right, with all the skill both mathematically and artistically that goes into. This book for me was pure pleasure of looking at awe-inspiring ceilings across the globe that I’ll probably never get to see. There is such a variety as well rather than sticking to one theme.