This is a collection of illustrations. I wish there had been some text about the artist and the illustrations. The illustrations are a lot of fun to look at and feature graphics suitable for menus. Enjoy

Dover Publications can always be counted on to provide a virtually neverending source of obscure beautiful graphics and arts books. This one is no exception. I wasn't familiar with Franz von Stuck before reading this book, he was an important artist and teacher in Munich in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His students included Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky.

The book includes 50 early plates which were originally used for commercial purposes such as menus, wine lists, and concert advertisements. The designs are beautifully rendered and detailed. Some of them are also quite humorous (the cherub holding up a giant shoe in absolute raptures of delight made me giggle out loud).

The book also includes a short historical introduction and summary which I found enlightening and interesting.

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'Of Menus and Mythology: Late Nineteenth Century Print Graphics' by Symbolist master Franz Von Stuck is a collection of 50 plates of art that could be reproduced for menus and wine cards.

In a publisher's note, we learn that Franz Von Stuck was an important figure in the Symbolist movement which featured artistic ideas and works from Baudelaire, Verlaine and others. Two of his students when he taught in Munich were Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky).

The plates that follow include coats of arms, cupids, musical instruments, urns and other items. Almost all of the figures pictured seem like they are in motion, either off balance or with backs arched or in the midst of strumming an instrument. The illustrations are ornate and detailed. I really enjoyed looking through this collection.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Leafing through this collection of von Struck's work was the motivation I needed to pick up my own (graphic tablet) pencil again after months. Even if it mostly consists of stock images and advertisement, his precise style and mythological motifs struck a cord with my amateur-artist self. The amount of movement and complicated poses is unbelievable! Further proof that graphic design is another art form. Still, I wish there were annotations added to each page, since - even though I'm a native German-speaker - some images certainly lacked an explanation. The brevity of this read was a bit disappointing, but I'm sure I'll have an inspirational look at it again from time to time.

We'll definitely pass on this one. Marketing copy on the back cover describes the excellent drafting of the illustrator--and that is accurate. (We can appreciate talent when we see it.) However, it also describes the book's pages as filled with grinning cherubs and grotesques--also true. A pagan, hedonistic collection for a niche audience.