About the Author

GIOVANNI ALOI teaches art history, theory, and criticism at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Antennae: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture. He is the author of numerous books and essays about the intersection of nature, science, and art.

Reviews

"Whatever one thinks of Freud’s nudes, it may come as a surprise to learn that he was also a minor producer of still-lifes. This book presents 75 paintings and drawings of plants—some still-lifes per se and others works in which plants are generously displayed... a thorough introduction to Freud's plant works" —The Art Newspaper

"The year’s most intriguingly sidelong take on the painter is entitled Lucian Freud Herbarium. Written by Giovanni Aloi, it begins with a potted history of plants in art, and then examines Freud’s own use of plants, flowers, and vegetation in many of his paintings." —Hyperallergic

"...illuminating... Aloi’s focus on plants makes one look again at familiar paintings and provides the opportunity to view others, many of them from private collections, that are equally extraordinary but comparatively little known." –The Spectator

"...bringing together the artist's paintings and drawings of plants...allows us insight into the quality and nature of Lucian Freud's looking, and through it to find pathos and subtlety in his portraits." —ArtDesk

"Giovanni Aloi is a knowledgeable companion, having written previoulsy on botany and art. He outlines the history of botanical art and the significance of plants in symbolism in art. He discusses the significance plants had for Freud the artist. His intelligent commentary and familiarity with Freud's life and output is well Judged and reliable. Herbarium is sure to bring pleasure to Freud fans and aficionados of realist (and Expressionist) art and is warmly recommended." —Alexander Adams

"This is a beautiful and intriguing book that adds a new dimension to one of the towering greats of British art of the Twentieth Century and does its subject more than ample justice." —Art Book Review

"As with all good scholarly works, the reader is left so convinced of the value of the subject matter that one is surprised it hasn't garnered more critical attantion already" —BlouinArtInfo

"This is a thorough and comprehensive work that includes not only some of Freud's figure painting as a basis for comparison, but also a handy history of plants in art... a beautiful and fascinating book that adds to our appreciation of a much-loved artist." —The Artist