Books Fun and Free: The best of public domain

Overview:

Art has the power to inspire and enrich our lives, and there are many ways to access it. One resource that is often overlooked is the wealth of art books that are available in the public domain. These books, which are no longer under copyright, can be freely downloaded and enjoyed by anyone with an internet connection. In this blog post, I have compiled a list of some of the best free art books that are available in the public domain. From classic art histories to practical guides on techniques and styles, these books offer something for every art lover. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, you are sure to find something of value in these freely available resources.

In addition to the classics, our list also includes lesser-known works that are equally worth exploring. For example, I have included a selection of books on the art of different cultures and time periods. These books provide insight into the art and history of different societies, and offer a unique perspective on the world of art.

Finally, our list includes a number of books that focus on specific art forms, such as drawing, painting, and sculpture. These books offer practical guidance and tips for artists looking to improve their skills and techniques, as well as inspiration and ideas for those looking to try something new. Whether you are interested in learning the fundamentals of art or are seeking to master a particular medium, these free art books are sure to have something for you.

Enjoy!

Ryan Darling

DOODLING

  1. HAMONSHU: A JAPANESE BOOK OF WAVE AND RIPPLE DESIGNS (1903)

  2. HA BUN SHU: A JAPANESE BOOK OF WAVE AND RIPPLE DESIGNS (1919)

  3. WHAT TO DRAW AND HOW TO DRAW IT (1913)

  4. SHIN-BIJUTSUKAI – JAPANESE DESIGN MAGAZINE (1902) 

HARD SURFACE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

  1. INDUSTRIAL ARTS DESIGN BY WILLIAM H. VARNUM

  2. CATALOGUE OF THE 68 COMPETITIVE DESIGNS FOR THE GREAT TOWER FOR LONDON (1890)

  3. AN INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE DRAWING AND DESIGN BY DAVID ALLAN LOW

  4. MANUFACTURING

  5. ENGINEERING (BOOKSHELF)

  6. TECHNOLOGY (BOOKSHELF)

  7. WOODWORK 

TOYS

  1. TOY CRAFT

  2. TOY-MAKING AT HOME: HOW TO MAKE A HUNDRED TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS BY MORLEY ADAMS

  3. UNAI NO TOMO: CATALOGUES OF JAPANESE TOYS (1891–1923)

  4. MARY AND GRETEL (1917)

  5. PHENAKISTOSCOPES (1833)

  6. MANUAL TRAINING — PLAY PROBLEMS (1917)

  7. FLOWERS OF FIRE: ILLUSTRATIONS FROM JAPANESE FIREWORKS CATALOGUES (CA. 1880S)

  8. PROGRESS IN PLAY: BOARD GAMES AND THE MEANING OF HISTORY

  9. OF ANGEL AND PUPPET: KLEE, RILKE, AND THE TEST OF INNOCENCE

  10. THE DREAMS OF AN INVENTOR IN 1420

  11. BOB’S ELECTRICAL THEATRE (1906)

  12. EDUCATIONAL TOYS

  13. HOME-MADE TOYS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

  14. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES

  15. HOME-MADE TOY MOTORS

  16. THE WONDERS OF A TOY SHOP

  17. ADVENTURES IN TOYLAND; WHAT THE MARIONETTE TOLD MOLLY BY EDITH KING HALL

  18. HOW TO MAKE SOCK TOYS BY EDNA CLAPPER 

CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATION

  1. THE FORGOTTEN TALES OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM

  2. PICTURES OF LIFE AND CHARACTER FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR PUNCH (1887)

  3. THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF CELEBRATED PICTURES BY LORINDA MUNSON BRYANT

  4. WONDERFUL STORIES FOR CHILDREN BY H. C. ANDERSEN

  5. A CHILD'S GUIDE TO PICTURES BY CHARLES H. CAFFIN

  6. THE CHINESE FAIRY BOOK (1921)

  7. MAGIC: STAGE ILLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC DIVERSIONS, INCLUDING TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY (1897)

  8. DENNISON’S BOGIE BOOK FOR HALLOWEEN (1920)

  9. THE HOLE BOOK (1908)

  10. JACK AND JILL AND OLD DAME GILL (1806)

  11. LEO TOLSTOY´S FABLES FOR CHILDREN (1904)

  12. THE PRACTICAL MAGICIAN AND VENTRILOQUIST’S GUIDE (1876)

  13. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN (1882)

  14. A FLORAL FANTASY IN AN OLD ENGLISH GARDEN (1899)

  15. OLD FRENCH FAIRYTALES, ILLUSTRATED BY VIRGINIA FRANCES STERRETT (1920)

  16. THE LITTLE RED HEN BY FLORENCE WHITE WILLIAMS

  17. CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND THEIR ILLUSTRATORS BY GLEESON WHITE

  18. THE INSECT FOLK BY MARGARET WARNER MORLEY

  19. THE GOLDEN GOOSE BOOK BY L. LESLIE BROOKE

  20. MARIGOLD GARDEN BY KATE GREENAWAY

  21. THE CHILD'S RAINY DAY BOOK BY MARY WHITE

  22. CAMP AND TRAIL WHITE, STEWART EDWARD, 1873-1946

  23. CAMPWARD HO! A MANUAL FOR GIRL SCOUT CAMPS UNKNOWN

  24. THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY OR, THE CAMP AT WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND BOND, A. RUSSELL (ALEXANDER RUSSELL), 1876-

  25. WOODCRAFT SEARS, GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1821-1890

  26. HOW TO CAMP OUT GOULD, JOHN MEAD, 1839-1930

  27. ON THE TRAIL AN OUTDOOR BOOK FOR GIRLS BEARD, ADELIA B. (ADELIA BELLE), 1857-1920 

DRAWING AND ART FUNDAMENTALS

  1. MECHANICAL DRAWING SELF-TAUGHT BY JOSHUA ROSE

  2. LINE AND FORM (1900) BY WALTER CRANE

  3. THE ELEMENTS OF DRAWING, IN THREE LETTERS TO BEGINNERS BY JOHN RUSKIN

  4. THE PRACTICE AND SCIENCE OF DRAWING BY HAROLD SPEED

  5. MR. PUNCH'S "ANIMAL LAND" BY EDWARD TENNYSON REED

  6. THE MIND OF THE ARTIST BY CICELY MARGARET POWELL BINYON

  7. A HANDBOOK OF ILLUSTRATION BY A. HORSLEY HINTON

  8. ARTS AND CRAFTS ESSAYS BY ARTS AND CRAFTS EXHIBITION SOCIETY

  9. THE CROWN OF WILD OLIVE BY JOHN RUSKIN

  10. VISION AND DESIGN BY ROGER FRY

  11. OUTDOOR SKETCHING BY FRANCIS HOPKINSON SMITH

  12. DRAWING FOR PRINTERS. BY ERNEST KNAUFFT

  13. HOW TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE: A LECTURE ON LINKAGES BY A. B. KEMPE

  14. WRITING AND DRAWING MADE EASY, AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE BY WILLIAM CHINNERY

  15. AUSTRALIAN PICTURES, DRAWN WITH PEN AND PENCIL BY HOWARD WILLOUGHBY

  16. ENGLISH PICTURES DRAWN WITH PEN AND PENCIL BY SAMUEL G. GREEN AND SAMUEL MANNING

  17. BLACKBOARD DRAWING BY FREDERICK WHITNEY

  18. CRAYON PORTRAITURE BY JEROME A. BARHYDT

  19. A SKETCH-BOOK OF R. CALDECOTT'S BY EDMUND EVANS AND RANDOLPH CALDECOTT

  20. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FAMILY OF PSITTACIDÆ, OR PARROTS BY EDWARD LEAR

  21. DRAWINGS OF ROSSETTI BY T. MARTIN WOOD

  22. DRAWINGS OF OLD LONDON BY PHILIP NORMAN

  23. OUR ARTIST IN CUBA BY GEORGE WASHINGTON CARLETON

  24. THE ESSENTIALS OF ILLUSTRATION BY THOMAS GEORGE HILL

  25. THE BOOK OF ART FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY CONWAY AND CONWAY

  26. MASTERS OF WATER-COLOUR PAINTING BY H. M. CUNDALL AND C. GEOFFREY HOLME

  27. THE USE OF A BOX OF COLOURS, IN A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION ON COMPOSITION, LIGHT

Research

Books: painting (sorted by popularity)

MEDIUM

METAL

  1. METAL SPINNING BY WILLIAM A. PAINTER AND C. TUELLS

WATERCOLOR

  1. CRUIKSHANK'S WATER COLOURS BY AINSWORTH, DICKENS, AND MAXWELL

  2. OXFORD WATER-COLOURS BY JOHN FULLEYLOVE

STAINED CLASS

  1. STAINED GLASS WORK: A TEXT-BOOK FOR STUDENTS AND WORKERS IN GLASS BY WHALL

  2. WINDOWS: A BOOK ABOUT STAINED & PAINTED GLASS BY LEWIS F. DAY

  3. STAINED GLASS OF THE MIDDLE AGES IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE BY HUGH ARNOLD

  4. PAINTED WINDOWS BY ELIA WILKINSON PEATTIE

  5. PAINTED WINDOWS BY HAROLD BEGBIE

INK

  1. PEN DRAWING: AN ILLUSTRATED TREATISE BY CHARLES DONAGH MAGINNIS

OIL PAINTING

  1. THE PAINTER IN OIL BY DANIEL BURLEIGH PARKHURST

AIR BRUSH

  1. PAINTING BY IMMERSION AND BY COMPRESSED AIR: A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK BY JENNINGS

Geometrical

  1. GEOMETRICAL PSYCHOLOGY, OR, THE SCIENCE OF REPRESENTATION (1887)

Perspective

  1. THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PERSPECTIVE BY G. A. STOREY

Design

  1. A THEORY OF PURE DESIGN: HARMONY, BALANCE, RHYTHM (1907) 

ART HISTORY

  1. LECTURES ON PAINTING, DELIVERED TO THE STUDENTS OF THE ROYAL ACADAMY BY ARMITAGE

  2. LECTURES ON ARCHITECTURE AND PAINTING, DELIVERED AT EDINBURGH IN NOVEMBER 1853

  3. A HISTORY OF ART FOR BEGINNERS AND STUDENTS: PAINTING, SCULPTURE, ARCHITECTURE

  4. A HISTORY OF ART FOR BEGINNERS AND STUDENTS: PAINTING, SCULPTURE, ARCHITECTURE

  5. A HISTORY OF ART FOR BEGINNERS AND STUDENTS: PAINTING, SCULPTURE, ARCHITECTURE

  6. THE STANDARD GALLERIES - HOLLAND BY ESTHER SINGLETON

  7. A SELECT COLLECTION OF VALUABLE AND CURIOUS ARTS AND INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS

  8. A TEXT-BOOK OF THE HISTORY OF PAINTING BY JOHN CHARLES VAN DYKE

  9. THE HISTORY OF MODERN PAINTING, VOLUME 3 (OF 4) BY RICHARD MUTHER

  10. LECTURES ON LANDSCAPE BY JOHN RUSKIN

  11. FIELD'S CHROMATOGRAPHY BY GEORGE FIELD

  12. PIGMENTS, PAINT AND PAINTING: A PRACTICAL BOOK FOR PRACTICAL MEN BY GEORGE TERRY

  13. PAINT TECHNOLOGY AND TESTS BY HENRY A. GARDNER

  14. PAINT & COLOUR MIXING BY ARTHUR SEYMOUR JENNINGS

  15. WOMEN PAINTERS OF THE WORLD BY WALTER SHAW SPARROW

  16. THE HISTORY OF MODERN PAINTING, VOLUME 1 (OF 4) BY RICHARD MUTHER

  17. SIX CENTURIES OF PAINTING BY RANDALL DAVIES

  18. MODERN PAINTING BY GEORGE MOORE

  19. MODERN PAINTING, ITS TENDENCY AND MEANING BY WILLARD HUNTINGTON WRIGHT

  20. MODERN PAINTERS, VOLUME 2 (OF 5) BY JOHN RUSKIN

  21. A MANUAL OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ART BY G. G. ZERFFI

  22. ANECDOTES OF PAINTERS, ENGRAVERS, SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS AND CURIOSITIES OF

  23. THE GREAT PAINTERS' GOSPEL BY HENRY TURNER BAILEY

  24. STAINED GLASS TOURS IN FRANCE BY CHARLES HITCHCOCK SHERRILL

  25. ART PRINCIPLES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PAINTING BY ERNEST GOVETT

  26. SURREY BY A. R. HOPE MONCRIEFF

  27. COLOUR DECORATION OF ARCHITECTURE BY JAMES WARD

  28. THE OLD MASTERS AND THEIR PICTURES, FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND LEARNERS IN ART

  29. ARTIST AND PUBLIC, AND OTHER ESSAYS ON ART SUBJECTS BY KENYON COX

  30. THE VENETIAN SCHOOL OF PAINTING BY EVELYN MARCH PHILLIPPS

  31. ADVENTURES IN THE ARTS BY MARSDEN HARTLEY

  32. PORTRAIT MINIATURES BY GEORGE CHARLES WILLIAMSON

  33. ARTISTS PAST AND PRESENT; RANDOM STUDIES BY ELISABETH LUTHER CARY

  34. AFTER ICEBERGS WITH A PAINTER BY LOUIS LEGRAND NOBLE

  35. ANECDOTES OF PAINTERS, ENGRAVERS, SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, AND CURIOSITIES OF 

WESTERN ART HISTORY

EUROPEAN

  1. THE FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS (1860-1900) BY CAMILLE MAUCLAIR

  2. FRENCH PAINTING OF THE 19TH CENTURY IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART BY GROSE EVANS

  3. KNIGHTS OF ART: STORIES OF THE ITALIAN PAINTERS BY AMY STEEDMAN

  4. THE FLORENTINE PAINTERS OF THE RENAISSANCE BY BERNARD BERENSON

  5. THE VENETIAN PAINTERS OF THE RENAISSANCE BY BERNARD BERENSON

  6. ENGLISH PAINTERS, WITH A CHAPTER ON AMERICAN PAINTERS BY KOEHLER AND WILMOT-BUXTON

  7. HEART OF EUROPE BY RALPH ADAMS CRAM

  8. HAPPY ENGLAND BY MARCUS B. HUISH

  9. THE HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY, VOL. 3 (OF 6) BY LUIGI LANZI

  10. THE STORY OF DUTCH PAINTING BY CHARLES H. CAFFIN

  11. FRENCH ART: CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY PAINTING AND SCULPTURE BY W. C. BROWNELL

  12. FRENCH CAVE PAINTINGS

  13. THE HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY, VOL. 1 (OF 6) BY LUIGI LANZI

  14. THE HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY, VOL. 2 (OF 6) BY LUIGI LANZI

  15. THE HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY, VOL. 3 (OF 6) BY LUIGI LANZI

  16. THE HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY, VOL. 4 (OF 6) BY LUIGI LANZI

  17. THE HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY, VOL. 5 (OF 6) BY LUIGI LANZI

  18. THE HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY, VOL. 6 (OF 6) BY LUIGI LANZI

  19. THE STORY OF SPANISH PAINTING BY CHARLES H. CAFFIN 

AMERICAN

  1. AMERICAN MASTERS OF PAINTING BY CHARLES H. CAFFIN

  2. THE INDIANS OF THE PAINTED DESERT REGION: HOPIS, NAVAHOES, WALLAPAIS, HAVASUPAIS

  3. THROUGH OUR UNKNOWN SOUTHWEST BY AGNES C. LAUT

  4. THIRTEEN CHAPTERS OF AMERICAN HISTORY BY THEODORE SUTRO 

EASTERN ART HISTORY

  1. ON THE LAWS OF JAPANESE PAINTING: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE ART OF JAPAN

  2. CHINESE PAINTERS: A CRITICAL STUDY BY RAPHAËL PETRUCCI

  3. THE DRAGON PAINTER BY MARY MCNEIL FENOLLOSA

  4. FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS: ORIENTAL BY CHARLES JOHN TIBBITTS 

ARTISTS

MASTERPIECES IN COLOUR (BOOKSHELF) 

MODERN PAINTERS SEIRIES

  1. MODERN PAINTERS, VOLUME 1 (OF 5) BY JOHN RUSKIN

  2. MODERN PAINTERS, VOLUME 2 (OF 5) BY JOHN RUSKIN

  3. MODERN PAINTERS, VOLUME 3 (OF 5) BY JOHN RUSKIN

  4. MODERN PAINTERS, VOLUME 4 (OF 5) BY JOHN RUSKIN

  5. MODERN PAINTERS, VOLUME 5 (OF 5) BY JOHN RUSKIN 

LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS

  1. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 01 (OF 10)

  2. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 02 (OF 10)

  3. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 03 (OF 10)

  4. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 04 (OF 10)

  5. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 05 (OF 10)

  6. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 06 (OF 10)

  7. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 07 (OF 10)

  8. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 08 (OF 10)

  9. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS, SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 09 (OF 10)

  10. LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT PAINTERS SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS, VOL. 10 (OF 10) 

THE LIVES OF THE PAINTERS, SCULPTORS & ARCHITECTS

  1. THE LIVES OF THE PAINTERS, SCULPTORS & ARCHITECTS, VOLUME 1 (OF 8) BY VASARI 

THE HISTORY OF MODERN PAINTING

  1. THE HISTORY OF MODERN PAINTING, VOLUME 2 (OF 4) BY RICHARD MUTHER

HORROR

Ryan DarlingComment