About this item
This cultural who's-who illuminates 50 famous figures, from Leonardo da Vinci to Coco Chanel, through the fascinating trivia of their lives. Artist James Gulliver Hancock depicts historical icons in quirky annotated portraits surrounded by their associated possessions, baggage, and foibles. Hemingway's hobbies, Amelia Earhart's preferred dessert, Martin Luther King Jr.'s favorite TV show—each portrait reveals the ordinary quirks of these extraordinary people and captures their personalities in the process. An exquisitely illustrated almanac and cultural literacy cheat sheet, this fun and informative collection offers both history buffs and art lovers a treasure trove of interesting facts about beloved artists, writers, thinkers, and dreamers.
About the Author
James Gulliver Hancock is obsessed with drawing. He is an original author/illustrator who constantly re-imagines the world around him through observation, taking what he sees and recontextualizing it into his fantastical world of drawings. Originally from Australia he now travels the world drawing on a wide variety of projects from publishing to advertising, packaging and large scale installation. James studied Visual Communications in Sydney, Australia and travelled overland extensively, through asia, russia and europe. His influences range from growing up with a psychologist for a mother to the cross sections of Stephen Biesty to the travel writing of Joseph Conrad. He is well known for the project www.allthebuildingsinnewyork.com which saw him obsessively document the built environment around him. More of his work can be seen at www.jamesgulliverhancock.com
