Do you have art history books?
'Storia dell'arte' — STO-rya del-LAR-te. The elision in 'dell'arte' makes it flow.
Use in Italian bookshops, particularly in cities with major art museums (Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples). Italian bookshops near museums often have exceptional art history sections.
'Storia dell'arte' = art history. 'Dell'arte' = 'di + l'arte' — the elision before a vowel is mandatory in Italian. Italian art history publishing is world-class: Electa, Skira (Milan), and the museum publishers produce some of the finest illustrated art books globally.
Avete il catalogo della mostra?
Do you have the exhibition catalogue?
Museum exhibition catalogues are important art publications.
Cerco qualcosa sull'arte rinascimentale.
I am looking for something on Renaissance art.
Specific period.
Avete monografie su Caravaggio?
Do you have monographs on Caravaggio?
Specific artist.
Italy's publishing house Electa, founded in Florence in 1945, is the world's leading publisher of art history and museum catalogues. Skira (Milan) is equally prestigious. Italy's cultural heritage drives a huge market for art history books — from academic monographs to beautiful coffee-table volumes.