The cave painters : probing the mysteries of the world's first artists

In his new book, Gregory Curtis introduces us to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain—to the men and women who rediscovered them, to the varied theories about their origins, to their remarkable beauty and their continuing fascination. He takes us with him on his own journey of discovery, making us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings, telling us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people who settled the area some 40,000 years ago.Beginning in 1879 with Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola, who found the astonishing paintings on the ceiling of a cave at Altamira, Curtis takes us among the scholars of prehistory, the archaeologists, the art historians who devoted their lives to studying and writing about the paintings. Among them: the famous Abbé Henri Breuil, who lay on his back in damp caves lit only by a lantern held patiently aloft by his faithful—and silent—female assistant, to produce the exquisite tracings that are the most reproduced renderings of the art; Max Raphael, the art historian who first understood that the animals on the walls were not single portraits but part of larger compositions; the beautiful Annette Lamming-Emperaire, resistance fighter turned archaeologist, whose doctoral thesis was so important that all theory since has flowed from her work; Jean Clottes and others still working as new caves and information come to light. In his own search for the caves’ meaning, Curtis takes us through the major theories—that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious or shamanistic purposes, or was clan mythology—examining the ways in which ethnography, archaeology, and religion have influenced the thinking about the cave paintings over time.__The Cave Painters__ is rich in detail, personalities, and history—and permeated with the mystery at the core of this art created so many thousands of years ago by human beings who had developed, perhaps for the first time, both the ability for abstract thought and a profound and beautiful way to express it. In his new book, Gregory Curtis introduces us to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain—to the men and women who rediscovered them, to the varied theories about their origins, to their remarkable beauty and their continuing fascination. He takes us with him on his own journey of discovery, making us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings, telling us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people who settled the area some 40,000 years ago. Beginning in 1879 with Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola, who found the astonishing paintings on the ceiling of a cave at Altamira, Curtis takes us among the scholars of prehistory, the archaeologists, the art historians who devoted their lives to studying and writing about the paintings. Among them: the famous Abbé Henri Breuil, who lay on his back in damp caves lit only by a lantern held patiently aloft by his faithful—and silent—female assistant, to produce the exquisite tracings that are the most reproduced renderings of the art; Max Raphael, the art historian who first understood that the animals on the walls were not single portraits but part of larger compositions; the beautiful Annette Lamming-Emperaire, resistance fighter turned archaeologist, whose doctoral thesis was so important that all theory since has flowed from her work; Jean Clottes and others still working as new caves and information come to light. In his own search for the caves’ meaning, Curtis takes us through the major theories—that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious or shamanistic purposes, or was clan mythology—examining the ways in which ethnography, archaeology, and religion have influenced the thinking about the cave paintings over time. The Cave Painters is rich in detail, personalities, and history—and permeated with the mystery at the core of this art created so many thousands of years ago by human beings who had developed, perhaps for the first time, both the ability for abstract thought and a profound and beautiful way to express it. The Cave Painters Is A Vivid Introduction To The Spectacular Cave Paintings Of France And Spain--the Individuals Who Rediscovered Them, Theories About Their Origins, Their Splendor And Mystery. Gergory Curtis Makes Us See The Astonishing Sophistication And Power Of The Paintings And Tells Us What Is Known About Their Creators, The Cro-magnon People Of Some 40,000 Years Ago. He Takes Us Through Various Theories--that The Art Was Part Of Fertility Or Hunting Rituals, Or Used For Religious Purposes, Or Was Clan Mythology--examining The Ways Interpretations Have Changed Over Time. Rich In Detail, Personalities, And History, The Cave Painters Is Above All Permeated With Awe For Those Distant Humans Who Developed--perhaps For The First Time--both The Ability For Abstract Thought And A Profound And Beautiful Way To Express It.--publisher's Website. Looks At The Cave Paintings Of Spain And France, Examining The Origins Of These Artworks And Their Creators, Cro-magnon People Who Settled There Centuries Ago, And Discusses The Theories Concerning The Meaning Of The Paintings. The Naked Cave Man -- The Seductive Axe; The Well-clothed Arrivals -- A Skeptic Admits His Error; The Passion Of Miss Mary E. Boyle -- Noble Robot, An Inquiring Dog; The Abbe's Sermons On The Mount -- The Great Black Cow; How To Paint A Horse -- A Stormy Drama Among Bison; The Golden Section -- A Lively But Unreliable Creation; Quaint, Symbolic Arrows -- The Trident-shaped Cave; Pairing, Not Coupling -- Three Brothers In A Boat; The Sorcerer -- A Passage Underwater; The Skull On A Rock -- Strange, Stylized Women; The World Below The World. Gregory Curtis. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 247-268) And Index. The Cave Painters is a vivid introduction to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain—the individuals who rediscovered them, theories about their origins, their splendor and mystery. Gregory Curtis makes us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings and tells us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people of some 40,000 years ago. He takes us through various theories—that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious purposes, or was clan mythology—examining the ways interpretations have changed over time. Rich in detail, personalities, and history, The Cave Painters is above all permeated with awe for those distant humans who developed—perhaps for the first time—both the ability for abstract thought and a profound and beautiful way to express it.