The Madman's Gallery

Enter The Madman’s Gallery and discover an extraordinary exhibition of the greatest curiosities from the global history of art. Edward Brooke-Hitching, author of internationally acclaimed and bestselling books such as The Phantom Atlas and The Madman's Library, gathers together over one hundred magnificently eccentric antique paintings, engravings, illustrations and sculptures, each chosen for their striking beauty and the wonderfully bizarre story behind their creation.

Brought to light from the depths of libraries, museums, dealers and galleries around the world, these forgotten artistic treasures are presented in their finest glory: from the portraits of oddballs like the British explorer with a penchant for riding crocodiles, and the Italian monk who levitated so often he’s recognised as the patron saint of airplane passengers; to impossible inventions like medieval land yachts, floating churches and eagle-powered airships. Discover dog-headed holy men, armies of German giants, imaginary prisons, 18th-century stuntmen, screaming ghost heads and forgeries that fooled the world. Learn to swear like a Cossack, play ‘human chess’, paint with Egyptian mummies and fight a duel with lanterns. These antique marvels are brought vividly to life with colourful images, compelling stories, obscure trivia and an odditorium of engaging characters.

Visually stunning and riotously entertaining, The Madman’s Gallery opens up the vast field of art history in a way that appeals to the general reader and all lovers of beautiful image-based works and quirky history. The perfect gift and coffee-table book, featuring a variety of subjects and sources presented with a satisfying depth of research, the world of art has never been presented in a more intriguing and addictively enjoyable form.