Taoist meditation is an essential aspect of spiritual practice in the Taoist tradition. Focused on harmony with nature and the Universe, it offers a path to inner peace and deep understanding of oneself and the world around us. Unlike other forms of meditation, it emphasizes flow and transformation, mimicking the natural movement of the Tao, the universal force. In Taoist literature, such as Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching", these principles are explored and guided, allowing for rewarding and enlightening practice. This book on Taoist meditation will be a valuable addition for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of these ancient …

Both beginner and advanced aquascaping enthusiasts will delight in this aquarium plant guidebook! Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants is filled with hundreds of aquatic plants presented in an A-to-Z directory with high quality photos and profiles of each plant. Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants includes detailed information on aquatic plants, including common names, botanical designations, growth cycles, and propagation. Additionally, this book covers potential problems that can occur in an aquatic environment, such as parasites, and how to prevent them. With hundreds of color photos and illustrations, this book is both beautiful and informative! Easy to understand and beginner-friendly, the Encyclopedia of …

Documents discovered recently in the hidden backrooms of St Petersburg’s Ethnological Museum have proved to be of sensational importance. The contents are published for the very first time in this work. Representing photos and descriptions of art and sculpture, of everyday utensils and everyday activities, all dating from the beginning of the twentieth century, these are the archives of ethnic groups in Siberia who for the most part have fougth tenaciously to maintain their historical traditions. The authors brilliantly convey their enthusiastic admiration for the peoples who have so successfully and for so long contended against both hostile environment and …

Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) Bonheur was the oldest of four artistic children born to the French landscape painter Raymond Bonheur. Rosa began sketching and sculpting animals at an early age and used her interest in animals to help her learn to read and write. She would sketch an animal for each letter of the alphabet and perfected her form by visiting butcher shops and cattle markets in Paris to achieve anatomically correct likenesses. Her 1853 masterpiece, The Horse Fair, brought her worldwide recognition, and she was the first female artist to be awarded the cross of the Legion of Honour in …

Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) epitomises the grace, intelligence, and poetry of the eighteenth century, a period when French tastes reigned supreme throughout Europe. He is renowned as a pivotal figure in Rococo art. Watteau excels in depicting scenes of daily life and theatrical costumes. His work, while highly stylised, reveals an undercurrent of melancholy beneath its apparent frivolity. It captures profound emotions, hinting at love that transcends mere physical attraction and showcasing the enigmatic ambience present in his landscapes and the wistful gaze in lovers’ eyes. Watteau’s exceptional sense of colour imparts feelings of softness and mystery, akin to a pervasive …

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) is widely regarded as one of the most significant artists of the Northern Renaissance. Born in Nuremberg, Germany, Dürer became renowned for his mastery of various mediums, including painting, printmaking, and wood-cutting. Throughout his life, Dürer produced a vast array of works that demonstrated his technical skill and innovative vision. His art often incorporated religious and classical themes, and his use of perspective and realism helped to establish new standards in European art. Beyond his artistic achievements, Dürer was also a prolific writer and thinker. His treatises on geometry, human proportion, and the theory of perspective remain …

Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) punctuates the eighteenth century with a burst of fireworks, closing the arc opened by Watteau with his enchanting poems of love and melancholy. While Watteau was ethereal and profound, Fragonard was delightfully light. He captivates us even as he amuses himself, his emotional distance ever apparent. Specialising in “fêtes galantes” executed in the Rococo style, Fragonard was a pupil of François Boucher and also studied under Chardin. Heeding Boucher’s advice, he portrayed romantic gardens replete with fountains, grottos, temples, and terraces—settings that also reveal the influence of Tiepolo. With King Louis XV as his patron, Fragonard shifted …

This richly illustrated book plunges you into the vibrant and provocative world of graffiti and street art in this wide-ranging exploration of a much-misunderstood culture. Our journey spans the tumultuous birth of graffiti in 1970s New York, to its explosive growth and evolution. Be seduced by the visceral impact of the bright colours and intricate shapes, the hard-hitting social and political commentary, and the stories that spontaneously spring from our urban canvases. This book encapsulates the raw energy, innovation and indomitable spirit of artists who dare to make the city their canvas. Join us on this journey, and see the …

This book shows the world of feelings of the affected person. Selva captures it finely in its pages and tells it chronologically from the most incipient steps in the reception of a diagnosis to the full assumption of a reality.To be able to access this knowledge is a jewel not to be missed by anyone interested in Lewy Body Disease: professionals, people affected, carers. But this is not the greatest achievement of the writing; the book manages to pierce the layer of general ignorance on the subject, allowing to know, raise awareness and assume the existence of this disease, unknown …