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Published in an age of artificial intelligence and robots, this is a timely book. The story that forms the centerpiece of this beautifully written and illustrated book is that of an automaton depicting a 16th-century Spanish Franciscan monk Diego de Alcala. The automaton is currently exhibited at the Smithsonian Institutions Museum of American History, and the book's two authors, King and Todd, are, respectively, a sculptor and a clockmaker. They unearth the mystery of the monk and the automaton in five parts. The book is a narrative of the origins of the monk and the legend surrounding him, which is that he was sainted following the miraculous cure of Spain's crown prince from a serious brain injury when the prince, on his death bed, was exposed to the corpse of the monk. The authors mention seven similar automata in European collections. Given their complexity, automata required the skills of sculptors, wood carvers, painters, tailors, and clockmakers, who made them mobile and animated them using springs, gears, ratchets, pawls, and pinions. Weaving together art, religion, science, medicine, technology, history, and folklore in a compelling manner, this book is a treasure.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers

In the period between 1890 and the First World War, there arose a unique form of poster, one that advertised literary magazines. Neither before nor since has colorful poster art been lavishly trained on this rather small corner of commercial enterprise. But the work produced in this period was influential: it foretold the coming of graphic design as a ubiquitous presence in technologically advanced societies. Joined by contributors Jennifer Greenhill, Rachel Mustalish, and Shannon Vittoria, Rudnick provides informative essays centering on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Leonard Lauder Collection, the most comprehensive collection of this genre. Created as a catalogue for a 2024 exhibition by the same title, this volume is the best available resource for this material. Several of these works have been reproduced before in histories of graphic design (e.g., those by Patrick Cramsie, Stephen Eskilson, and Philip Meggs and Alston Purvis), but the present volume is unexcelled in terms of depth and quality of reproduction. This is a fine and important work.Summing Up: Essential. All readers.

In this short, easy-to-read tome, Sleigh (an independent arts and heritage Learning Curator) explores the paradigmatic shift happening in museums worldwide as they respond to the recent cultural mandate to overhaul the status quo to prioritize centering inclusion, fostering trust with all members of the public, prioritizing accessibility, and other forward-looking practices. In each of the book's seven main chapters, the story of a museum object illustrates the concept at the heart of each discussion. Through conversations with museum leaders, Sleigh delves into the responsibilities and ideals of today's museums, revealing both sincere personal perspectives and expert insights into challenging topics. At the heart of the overall narrative is consistent advocacy for the redistribution of power in cultural institutions to radically center inclusion in all areas of museum practice. A quick, informative resource for readers seeking an overview of the key concerns facing museums as they begin to evolve into the accountable, representative, inclusive institutions they are called on to be. This work is essential to museum studies and a valuable addition for art history or arts-related collections.Summing Up: Essential. Undergraduates through faculty; professionals.