ArtCurious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 323 ratings

Price: 15.75

Last update: 02-25-2025


About this item

A wildly entertaining and surprisingly educational dive into art history as you've never heard it before, from the host of the beloved ArtCurious podcast.

We're all familiar with the works of Claude Monet, thanks in no small part to the ubiquitous reproductions of his water lilies on umbrellas, handbags, scarves, and dorm-room posters. But did you also know that Monet and his cohort were trailblazing rebels whose works were originally deemed unbelievably ugly and vulgar? And while you probably know the tale of Vincent van Gogh's suicide, you may not be aware that there's pretty compelling evidence that the artist didn't die by his own hand but was accidentally killed - or even murdered. Or how about the fact that one of Andy Warhol's most enduring legacies involves Caroline Kennedy's moldy birthday cake and a collection of toenail clippings?

ArtCurious is a colorful look at the world of art history, revealing some of the strangest, funniest, and most fascinating stories behind the world's great artists and masterpieces. Through these and other incredible, weird, and wonderful tales, ArtCurious presents an engaging look at why art history is, and continues to be, a riveting and relevant world to explore.


Top reviews from the United States

  • arthistorygirl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2020
    ArtCurious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History by Jennifer Dasal is a fantastic read for anyone curious about art. She is a wonderful storyteller and brings the art and the story to life.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining AND Educational
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020
    This book seemed like it would be a good fit for my brother who is an artist and an educator. He paints and teaches computer graphics at the college level, so I bought a copy for him as a gift. I also ordered the Audible version for myself, so we could discuss it later. Although I don't know much about art history myself, that did not restrict my enjoyment of this well-written collection of anecdotes. The research that must have went into this effort is impressive, and the stories themselves are intriguing. And while some authors are good at reading their own text aloud, some aren't . . . this one IS! Her voice is delightful and she made the book a real pleasure. Highly recommend!
  • David A. Beaujon
    4.0 out of 5 stars So glad I read this!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2023
    Informative, fun, and eye opening! Her light snarkiness is wonderful. It seems like a small thing, but her listing where an artwork resides is such a help, if you're like me and would lime to see a work in person! Thanks!!
  • MTanaka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clever and knowledgeable
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025
    Very entertaining and knowledgeable, full of odd and surprising facts.
  • alexandra bermudez
    3.0 out of 5 stars Few interesting stuffs about art
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021
    This book is a summary of themes and topics in the art World. You can read a chapter easily once in a while without losing track. Good if you are an art beginner.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Curiosity will be stimulated and the pages turned quickly
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2022
    Love that it is a pickup and read without having to keep track of the story line, characters, etc. A great book for an easy, but interesting read which gives me wonderful little tidbits of cocktail party chats.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not the Art History Fan, but Liked the Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2022
    As a math person, I was very hesitant about this book. But it reads like a podcast and contains brief stories about the history of an art piece or artist. Book club pick - not disappointed.
  • L. Bailiff
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for art lovers and the art curious alike
    Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2020
    100% great art writing, fun, anecdotal, but also thoroughly accurate and researched. Some hidden nuggets for art historians and revelations for the art curious.

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