Renaissance and Baroque Ceiling Masterpieces (Dover Pictorial Archive)

The lofty painted ceilings of Europe's palaces and churches rank among the greatest treasures of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. This unique assemblage features brilliant full-color reproductions of some of the finest examples of such art. Drawn from two rare French and German portfolios of the nineteenth century, this unique volume re-creates more than 60 magnificent ceilings from Parisian drawing rooms, German castles, and Italian galleries.Richly depicting scenes from nature and mythology, this collection abounds in chubby cherubs, ethereal goddesses, heroes in full battle armor, and all manner of animals, both legendary and realistic. In addition, a generous assortment of floral ornaments includes rosettes, garlands, and clusters of acanthus and other decorative leaves and vines. Whether used in their entirety or as individual motifs, these designs will add beauty and sophistication to any art or craft project.