Black Velvet: The Art We Love to Hate

If you imagine black velvet painting to be limited to tacky, throw-away portraits of matadors, sad eyed clowns, and pool playing dogs, this book will make you think again. Black Velvet takes us into the world of velvet painting and opens our eyes to the unique, offbeat beauty of this fascinating genre, tracing its Japanese, Middle Eastern, and Victorian origins and examining its widespread appeal.