The three arts books you need to read this month: June

Our pick of the latest arts and culture titles.

Nemesis: Alcibiades and the Fall of Athens

Arts Society Lecturer David Stuttard

Charismatic, extravagant and strikingly handsome, Alcibiades was one of the brightest (yet controversial) figures of the Golden Age of Athens. A skilled politician and general, Alcibiades was renowned for his illustrious connections: his uncle, Pericles, was an influential statesman, and he had a close friendship with the philosopher Socrates.
 
Yet, despite his celebrity status, Alcibiades remains one of antiquity’s most notorious traitors. His changes of loyalty in the 5th century BC Peloponnesian War earned him many enemies. He sought refuge in the enemy state of Sparta, and the remainder of his life was characterised by turbulence and exile.
 
In this work, scholar and Arts Society Lecturer David Stuttard follows Alcibiades’ journey from childhood to political power. Set against the glory and turmoil of ancient Athens, Stuttard traces Alcibiades’ travels from mainland Greece to Byzantium, a period marked by eminence and decline. Bringing together ancient source material and in-depth analysis, Stuttard provides a compelling account of this controversial figure.
 
Published by Harvard University Press; hup.harvard.edu; £21.95

The Museum of Lost Art

Noah Charney

From the ancient Library of Alexandria to whitewashed Vatican art, discover some of the world’s greatest – and lesser-known – lost treasures in this work by art history professor Noah Charney. Delve into the stories of more than 100 lost (and rediscovered) artworks, including Gainsborough’s Portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, which was eventually returned to England and appeared in a London auction house over a century after it was stolen.
 
Combining art history, drama and adventure, the book showcases contemporary interpretations of lost and fabled works of art. These include the 11-tonne reconstruction of Palmyra’s Arch of Triumph, unveiled in Trafalgar Square in 2016, and a reimagining of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
 
Structured by methods of loss, from war and theft to vandalism and natural disaster, this engaging work highlights the vulnerability of the world’s treasures.
 
Published by Phaidon; uk.phaidon.com; £19.95

Victor Horta: The Architect of Art Nouveau

 David Dernie, Alastair Carew-Cox

Characterised by curving lines and nature-inspired motifs, Art Nouveau architecture gained popularity during the late 19th century. Pioneered by Belgian architect Victor Horta, the style captured the imagination of artists from Antoni Gaudí to Hector Guimard.
 
During his lifetime, Horta designed buildings from Hôtel Tassel to the Brugmann Hospital, both located in Brussels. In this book, written by architect David Dernie and with photography by Alastair Carew-Cox, original drawings and specially commissioned photographs reveal the influences that shaped Horta’s work.
 
The book also includes exclusive photographs of Hôtel Solvay, one of Horta’s key designs. Complete with elegant staircases and mosaic floors, this project bears testament to Horta’s revolutionary ideas, which inspired the development of modernist architecture.
 
Published by Thames & Hudson; thamesandhudson.com; £45