Books do furnish a painting

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What should you do at Christmas? In Edvard Munch's Christmas in the Brothel, the artist depicts himself asleep from drink, while the Madame reads a book. This raises questions about connections between historical figures and art. What links Stalin and Rosso Fiorentino? What was Gauguin hinting at with Milton's Paradise Lost in a friend's portrait? How did a chance meeting on Unter den Linden make the young owner of The Red Book famous? Was it true that Picasso was never seen with a book? Why were the Cumberland girls reading The Fashionable Lover in Romney's commissioned portrait? Thousands of fine paintings feature books, prompting a survey that first asks, "What is a book?" It explores the relationship between the development of books and the evolving role of the artist, showcasing the work of many great artists over the last five centuries. The survey explains how books became a central aspect of our cultural lives and everyday existence. These paintings connect us to centuries of experiences: religious systems, symbols, education, transport, gender roles, social status, romance, childhood imagination, literary life, friendship, and more. Books reveal insights about ourselves and have secured their place in both life and art throughout history.