Trees in Art [Hardcover]

In this lavishly illustrated book, Charles Watkins celebrates the myth and magic of arboreal art. Open its pages and enter the greeny groves of the classical world, from Daphne’s metamorphosis into a laurel tree to the gardens of Pompeii. Shade yourself beneath the tree in sacred art, as represented in masterworks by Botticelli and Michelangelo. Exploring every leafy manifestation of tree art—from oaks as a symbol of nationhood and liberty across Europe, to the natural mystery and drama of forest interiors, the formal beauty of cultivated avenues, and representations of forestry over the ages—Trees in Artilluminates trees that are much more than mere plants. Taking in the fantastic and surreal arboreal art of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, William Blake, Arthur Rackham, and Salvador Dalí, as well as the work of contemporary artists like Giuseppe Penone and Ai Wei Wei,Trees in Artreveals the enduring practice, genius, and meaning behind how artists render trees. Drawing on exquisite artworks and Watkins’s deep knowledge of the history and ecology of trees, the thematic chapters ofTrees in Arttake us on an enlightening journey through centuries of verdant, artistic engagement with a natural form that seems to mirror and allegorize the human path through life.

Charles Watkinsis professor of rural geography at the University of Nottingham. Among his many books, he is coauthor ofUvedale Price 1747–1829: Decoding the Picturesqueand the author ofTrees, Woods and Forests: A Social and Cultural History, the latter also published by Reaktion Books.

"Filled with paintings, drawings, and illustrations, this book celebrates arboreal art through the centuries from Salvador Dalí to David Hockney."

"With Corot’s stunningFontainebleau, in the Foreston the cover and 203 illustrations on its 256 pages,Trees in Artmight resemble a 'coffeel£¿