Collaboratively produced by independent curator and ballet instructor Jill DeVonyar and art historian Richard Kendall, Degas And The Dance is a gorgeous volume filled cover to cover with spectacular color photographs of art and sculpture celebrating the dance, particularly ballet, as created by 19th century artist Edgar Degas. An insightful text provides informative commentary about the man called "the painter of dancers", and his body of work, enriches this vivid presentation of pieces that blend realism with occasional softening or abstracting elements. Degas And The Dance is enthusiastically recommended as being beautiful book just to page through, and a "must" for anyone who appreciates the immortal art of Edgar Degas.

Franz Xaver Winterhalter could make anyone look pretty. Even Queen Victoria and her kin, if you see his portraits of them.

His paintings are flattering, make the subject look radiant and angelic, cherub-faced. His painting of Victoria's daughter Vicky is particularly beautiful, as are his portraits of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.

For anyone who's enjoyed Winterhalter's paintings, this is a great book to have.