reviews of Art Books
A stellar reputation restored
Cora Hollema & Pieternel Kouwenhoven‚ Thérèse Schwartze, Painting for a Living, 2nd edn Amsterdam, 2021
This book is an outstanding contribution to our knowledge of the life and works of the talented Dutch painter, Thérèse Schwartze -- an artist who achieved the peak of fame and success just over a century ago, only to fall back into deep obscurity, like so many women artists before her.
Schwartze made her name as a celebrated portraitist of the well-to-do, with clientele extending even to members of the Dutch Royal Family. Blessed with an extraordinary work ethic, considerable artistic talent, a pleasing manner and a good business sense, she amassed considerable wealth, more than fulfilling her teenage promise to her artist-father to support the family through her art. However, her star faded with the emergence of modern art movements in the early 20th century.
The authors deserve praise for their perspicacity and resilience in resuscitating Schwartze’s reputation, allowing us to revisit an artist who had been largely forgotten. The book is handsomely produced and profusely illustrated with a wide selection of Schwartze’s paintings. Recommended. (Order through www.thereseschwartze.com)
Cora Hollema & Pieternel Kouwenhoven‚ Thérèse Schwartze, Painting for a Living, 2nd edn Amsterdam, 2021
This book is an outstanding contribution to our knowledge of the life and works of the talented Dutch painter, Thérèse Schwartze -- an artist who achieved the peak of fame and success just over a century ago, only to fall back into deep obscurity, like so many women artists before her.
Schwartze made her name as a celebrated portraitist of the well-to-do, with clientele extending even to members of the Dutch Royal Family. Blessed with an extraordinary work ethic, considerable artistic talent, a pleasing manner and a good business sense, she amassed considerable wealth, more than fulfilling her teenage promise to her artist-father to support the family through her art. However, her star faded with the emergence of modern art movements in the early 20th century.
The authors deserve praise for their perspicacity and resilience in resuscitating Schwartze’s reputation, allowing us to revisit an artist who had been largely forgotten. The book is handsomely produced and profusely illustrated with a wide selection of Schwartze’s paintings. Recommended. (Order through www.thereseschwartze.com)
Thérèse Schwartze, Portrait of Aleida Gijsberta van Ogtrop-Hanlo with her five children, 1906. Oil on canvas.
A fine biography of the young Michelangelo
If you are looking for the definitive work on the early life and career of Michelangelo, or more generally for a vivid account of the emergence of an exceptional talent, this is the book for you.
The author, art historian and critic John T Spike, has previously written significant biographies of Caravaggio, Masaccio and Fra Angelico. Here he traces the development of Michelangelo from his birth up to his return to Rome at the age of 33 to work on the monumental decoration of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo comes vividly to life as complex, restless, ambitious and charismatic character, superbly confident of his own undoubted abilities, who prospers during an often-turbulent era peopled by such larger-than-life characters as Savonarola, Pope Julius, Lorenzo the Magnificent and Machiavelli.
Spike has also been able to draw on a trove of recently-published financial accounts and records to establish Michelangelo’s financial acumen – the success of the Pietà and his celebrated David ensured that, even before he was 30, Michelangelo had not only reached the frontline of Florentine artists but also had more cash in the bank than Leonardo would accumulate in his lifetime.
Spike writes in a refreshingly clear style, free of preconceptions or ideological bias, and his account is backed up by an impressive depth of research. Highly recommended: John T Spike, Young Michelangelo: The Path to the Sistine (Duckworth Overlook, London 2010).
The Art of Looking at Art
In this welcome new publication, teacher and painter Gene Wisniewski distils his 20 years’ experience of teaching visual art into an entertaining and thought- provoking introduction to the world of art.
In its 280 large-format pages, the author gives us not only a well-researched and informative primer on the history of art, but also covers a wide variety of related topics -- how artists work, why art is worthwhile, what makes people creative, the art market, how to get the most from looking at art, the role of museums, even how artists live. In short, in his own words, it’s “pretty much everything having to do with art”.
Wisniewski writes in a clear, entertaining and sometimes discursive style, and studs his book with dashes of humour, interesting anecdotes and real-life stories that you immediately want to share. It’s that rare combination of a book that is great to just dip into and see where it leads, but also one which repays serious reading. The book is well-illustrated with colour plates and is extensively sourced at the end of each chapter for those who wish to read further on any point. Highly recommended. Gene Wisniewski, The Art of Looking at Art (Rowman & Littlefield, London, 2020)
An artful tale of theft, forgery and revenge
This story begins in the 1950s, with the theft of a valuable heirloom painting from the Manhattan apartment of wealthy attorney Marty de Groot. The painting is the only known surviving work of Sara de Vos, one of a small number of women artists practicing in 17th century Holland. The theft initially remains undetected, as the thieves have switched the original with a highly-convincing fake, created by a talented but struggling young Australian art restorer, Ellie Shipley.
How these events play out over the ensuing decades forms the main narrative of the book, with the author skipping nimbly between Holland, America and Australia, and from one century to another, as he introduces us into the contrasting worlds of the three main characters. It is a compelling story of deception, revenge, guilt and love, and along the way we learn a lot about the nature of the artistic process, as well as practical insights into the arcane arts of restoration and forgery. Recommended. The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, Dominic Smith (Allen & Unwin, 2016).
The Strange Case of Madeleine Seguin
Author William Rose sets this engaging story in Paris of the 1880s. It was a time when many new ideas were current. Interest was high in hypnosis and psychiatry, magic and the occult, theories of dreams, imagination and female “hysteria”, and the growth of the Symbolist art movement. And, lurking in the background, hints of sexual licence and decadence.
The central character, Madeleine, is a patient at the Salpêtrière Hospital, which treats large numbers of the lost, disordered and insane. Madeleine had originally been left at the hospital as a clearly distressed and disturbed 17-year old. No-one knows her background or her parents, but her care and treatment are paid for by an unknown benefactor.
Madeleine is beautiful, but isolated and mute. For varying reasons, she exercises a powerful attraction over the people that come into contact with her. This is magnified by her sensational appearances in live demonstrations of the treatment of hysteria by hypnosis, conducted in public lectures held by the hospital’s director Professor Charcot.
Among the people she attracts are a guilt-ridden priest, an attending doctor, an aristocratic Countess with dubious motives, and a young Symbolist artist, Louis Martens, who performs an important role in linking many of the strands of the story. While most are concerned to help or save Madeleine, in one way or another, others are intent on corrupting her -- or worse -- and are prepared to go to any lengths to do so.
The story is told in the form of letters and case reports written by those involved, but not by Madeleine herself. This is a particularly effective device where a variety of viewpoints are being presented. A further attraction of the book is that while some of the characters are fictional (including Madeleine and Louis), many others -- and incidents -- are real. These include Professor Charcot himself, and leading lights in the dream and imagination-based Symbolist movement, including the poet Mallarmé, critic Jean Moréas and the rather sinister artist Félicien Rops. This fusion of real and imaginary adds a special piquancy to the story.
This exceptionally well-written book is both informative and entertaining, and becomes progressively more suspenseful as Madeleine’s fate starts increasingly to hang in the balance. The ending is surprising, and satisfying. Warmly recommended. William Rose, The Strange Case of Madeleine Seguin, Karnac, 2017.
An exploration of Bruegel’s Way to Calvary
Art critic Michael F Gibson’s The Mill and the Cross is a detailed and perceptive examination of Pieter Bruegel’s sixteenth century painting, The Way to Calvary. Gibson arms us with the political background of the work – essential in understanding what is happening -- and guides us through the multitude of incidents and people who populate Bruegel’s vast panorama, making sense of what might otherwise appear to be random chaotic activity, and underlining the humanity and sensitivity that lie behind Bruegel’s depictions. Gibson also provides some interesting and convincing guidance on the painting’s structure and composition, and offers some intriguing possibilities as to its theoretical meaning. The book contains dozens of revealing close-ups of the painting which give the reader unparalleled access to details which we might otherwise miss.
Gibson’s book, which inspired the 2011 feature film of the same name (reviewed here), was invaluable in preparing my own article on the painting, and is an essential reference for anyone interested in the works of Bruegel. Warmly recommended. Michael Francis Gibson, The Mill and the Cross, University of Levana Press, 2012.
Discovering the artist Charles Meere
The fame of Australian artist Charles Meere’s Australian Beach Pattern is such that it has tended to overshadow the artist himself, and the rest of his work. In her new book, Joy Eadie has now filled both gaps admirably. The book provides us with insights into the artist’s long career, stretching over England, France and Australia, and gives detailed examinations of a number of fine works that would otherwise remain unfamiliar to many readers.
Importantly too, Eadie is keen to correct misconceptions that have developed about what Meere was trying to convey in many of his paintings. This particularly applies to Australian Beach Pattern itself, which has been described by some critics as everything ranging from fascistic to unimaginative. Eadie argues convincingly that such interpretations miss the point and she provides what amounts to a complete re-evaluation of Meere’s approach – an approach characterised by a willingness to engage with serious issues, disguised by the subtlety of his allusions to great works of the past and by his wry sense of humour.
The book is beautifully presented, with excellent images of Meere’s works, and the paintings that may have influenced the artist. Clearly written and refreshing jargon-free, this is a fine and overdue contribution: Joy Eadie, Discovering Charles Meere, Halstead Press, Sydney 2017.
Incidentally, for more on Charles Meere see our article here
The other world of Christina
US artist Andrew Wyeth’s famously unsettling Christina’s World depicts a real-life person, Christina Olsen, with her back to the viewer, looking up at the old farm house in Maine where she grew up. Wyeth met her in 1939 when she was 46, smart and dynamic, but severely handicapped by a long-term disease, and carrying out an unending series of daily chores on the farm. Kline’s novel A Piece of the World, told from Christina’s point of view, allows us a full view of Christina, her life, her house, her relationships – including with Wyeth himself -- and her motivations and challenges: Christina Baker Kline, A Piece of the World (William Morrow, 2017) http://christinabakerkline.com/
In this welcome new publication, teacher and painter Gene Wisniewski distils his 20 years’ experience of teaching visual art into an entertaining and thought- provoking introduction to the world of art.
In its 280 large-format pages, the author gives us not only a well-researched and informative primer on the history of art, but also covers a wide variety of related topics -- how artists work, why art is worthwhile, what makes people creative, the art market, how to get the most from looking at art, the role of museums, even how artists live. In short, in his own words, it’s “pretty much everything having to do with art”.
Wisniewski writes in a clear, entertaining and sometimes discursive style, and studs his book with dashes of humour, interesting anecdotes and real-life stories that you immediately want to share. It’s that rare combination of a book that is great to just dip into and see where it leads, but also one which repays serious reading. The book is well-illustrated with colour plates and is extensively sourced at the end of each chapter for those who wish to read further on any point. Highly recommended. Gene Wisniewski, The Art of Looking at Art (Rowman & Littlefield, London, 2020)
An artful tale of theft, forgery and revenge
This story begins in the 1950s, with the theft of a valuable heirloom painting from the Manhattan apartment of wealthy attorney Marty de Groot. The painting is the only known surviving work of Sara de Vos, one of a small number of women artists practicing in 17th century Holland. The theft initially remains undetected, as the thieves have switched the original with a highly-convincing fake, created by a talented but struggling young Australian art restorer, Ellie Shipley.
How these events play out over the ensuing decades forms the main narrative of the book, with the author skipping nimbly between Holland, America and Australia, and from one century to another, as he introduces us into the contrasting worlds of the three main characters. It is a compelling story of deception, revenge, guilt and love, and along the way we learn a lot about the nature of the artistic process, as well as practical insights into the arcane arts of restoration and forgery. Recommended. The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, Dominic Smith (Allen & Unwin, 2016).
The Strange Case of Madeleine Seguin
Author William Rose sets this engaging story in Paris of the 1880s. It was a time when many new ideas were current. Interest was high in hypnosis and psychiatry, magic and the occult, theories of dreams, imagination and female “hysteria”, and the growth of the Symbolist art movement. And, lurking in the background, hints of sexual licence and decadence.
The central character, Madeleine, is a patient at the Salpêtrière Hospital, which treats large numbers of the lost, disordered and insane. Madeleine had originally been left at the hospital as a clearly distressed and disturbed 17-year old. No-one knows her background or her parents, but her care and treatment are paid for by an unknown benefactor.
Madeleine is beautiful, but isolated and mute. For varying reasons, she exercises a powerful attraction over the people that come into contact with her. This is magnified by her sensational appearances in live demonstrations of the treatment of hysteria by hypnosis, conducted in public lectures held by the hospital’s director Professor Charcot.
Among the people she attracts are a guilt-ridden priest, an attending doctor, an aristocratic Countess with dubious motives, and a young Symbolist artist, Louis Martens, who performs an important role in linking many of the strands of the story. While most are concerned to help or save Madeleine, in one way or another, others are intent on corrupting her -- or worse -- and are prepared to go to any lengths to do so.
The story is told in the form of letters and case reports written by those involved, but not by Madeleine herself. This is a particularly effective device where a variety of viewpoints are being presented. A further attraction of the book is that while some of the characters are fictional (including Madeleine and Louis), many others -- and incidents -- are real. These include Professor Charcot himself, and leading lights in the dream and imagination-based Symbolist movement, including the poet Mallarmé, critic Jean Moréas and the rather sinister artist Félicien Rops. This fusion of real and imaginary adds a special piquancy to the story.
This exceptionally well-written book is both informative and entertaining, and becomes progressively more suspenseful as Madeleine’s fate starts increasingly to hang in the balance. The ending is surprising, and satisfying. Warmly recommended. William Rose, The Strange Case of Madeleine Seguin, Karnac, 2017.
An exploration of Bruegel’s Way to Calvary
Art critic Michael F Gibson’s The Mill and the Cross is a detailed and perceptive examination of Pieter Bruegel’s sixteenth century painting, The Way to Calvary. Gibson arms us with the political background of the work – essential in understanding what is happening -- and guides us through the multitude of incidents and people who populate Bruegel’s vast panorama, making sense of what might otherwise appear to be random chaotic activity, and underlining the humanity and sensitivity that lie behind Bruegel’s depictions. Gibson also provides some interesting and convincing guidance on the painting’s structure and composition, and offers some intriguing possibilities as to its theoretical meaning. The book contains dozens of revealing close-ups of the painting which give the reader unparalleled access to details which we might otherwise miss.
Gibson’s book, which inspired the 2011 feature film of the same name (reviewed here), was invaluable in preparing my own article on the painting, and is an essential reference for anyone interested in the works of Bruegel. Warmly recommended. Michael Francis Gibson, The Mill and the Cross, University of Levana Press, 2012.
Discovering the artist Charles Meere
The fame of Australian artist Charles Meere’s Australian Beach Pattern is such that it has tended to overshadow the artist himself, and the rest of his work. In her new book, Joy Eadie has now filled both gaps admirably. The book provides us with insights into the artist’s long career, stretching over England, France and Australia, and gives detailed examinations of a number of fine works that would otherwise remain unfamiliar to many readers.
Importantly too, Eadie is keen to correct misconceptions that have developed about what Meere was trying to convey in many of his paintings. This particularly applies to Australian Beach Pattern itself, which has been described by some critics as everything ranging from fascistic to unimaginative. Eadie argues convincingly that such interpretations miss the point and she provides what amounts to a complete re-evaluation of Meere’s approach – an approach characterised by a willingness to engage with serious issues, disguised by the subtlety of his allusions to great works of the past and by his wry sense of humour.
The book is beautifully presented, with excellent images of Meere’s works, and the paintings that may have influenced the artist. Clearly written and refreshing jargon-free, this is a fine and overdue contribution: Joy Eadie, Discovering Charles Meere, Halstead Press, Sydney 2017.
Incidentally, for more on Charles Meere see our article here
The other world of Christina
US artist Andrew Wyeth’s famously unsettling Christina’s World depicts a real-life person, Christina Olsen, with her back to the viewer, looking up at the old farm house in Maine where she grew up. Wyeth met her in 1939 when she was 46, smart and dynamic, but severely handicapped by a long-term disease, and carrying out an unending series of daily chores on the farm. Kline’s novel A Piece of the World, told from Christina’s point of view, allows us a full view of Christina, her life, her house, her relationships – including with Wyeth himself -- and her motivations and challenges: Christina Baker Kline, A Piece of the World (William Morrow, 2017) http://christinabakerkline.com/
Andrew Wyeth, Christina's World (1948) Museum of Modern Art
In pursuit of Velázquez
The Vanishing Man is part art history and part true-life mystery story. Author Laura Cumming, art critic for the Observer, sets out to follow the trail of John Snare, an obsessive Victorian bookseller, who in 1845 stumbled upon a painting which he believed was a “lost” work by Velázquez. Snare’s growing infatuation with the painting would eventually lead him to both fame and ruin, and Cumming’s account of it reads like an engrossing detective story. At the same time, however, she provides us with a penetrating analysis of just why Velázquez has continued to appeal at so many levels, and why he was capable of inspiring such extremes of devotion as would lead Snare to his unfortunate fate. The book is well-illustrated, engagingly written and fully documented, as one would expect from Cumming, who also wrote the excellent A Face to the World (Laura Cumming, The Vanishing Man: In Pursuit of Velázquez, Chatto & Windus, London, 2016.)
Spectacular Ottoman ceramics
It's easy to be seduced by the beauty of the Iznik ceramics featured in this recent reissue of Walter B Denny’s book Iznik: The Artistry of Ottoman Ceramics. Its 206 colour illustrations are dazzling. The accompanying text is clear and informative as it explains how the ceramics were created and used, how different styles developed and how the master ceramicists emerged. There's also an interesting discussion of their influence on Western art (Thames and Hudson, London 2014).
The Vanishing Man is part art history and part true-life mystery story. Author Laura Cumming, art critic for the Observer, sets out to follow the trail of John Snare, an obsessive Victorian bookseller, who in 1845 stumbled upon a painting which he believed was a “lost” work by Velázquez. Snare’s growing infatuation with the painting would eventually lead him to both fame and ruin, and Cumming’s account of it reads like an engrossing detective story. At the same time, however, she provides us with a penetrating analysis of just why Velázquez has continued to appeal at so many levels, and why he was capable of inspiring such extremes of devotion as would lead Snare to his unfortunate fate. The book is well-illustrated, engagingly written and fully documented, as one would expect from Cumming, who also wrote the excellent A Face to the World (Laura Cumming, The Vanishing Man: In Pursuit of Velázquez, Chatto & Windus, London, 2016.)
Spectacular Ottoman ceramics
It's easy to be seduced by the beauty of the Iznik ceramics featured in this recent reissue of Walter B Denny’s book Iznik: The Artistry of Ottoman Ceramics. Its 206 colour illustrations are dazzling. The accompanying text is clear and informative as it explains how the ceramics were created and used, how different styles developed and how the master ceramicists emerged. There's also an interesting discussion of their influence on Western art (Thames and Hudson, London 2014).
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Forgery and Faustian bargains in art thriller
In this well-researched, tightly-plotted and enjoyable novel, an artist is faced with difficult choices when asked to forge a Degas painting which had originally disappeared in the infamous robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. With its appealing characters and moral complexities, this book fully justifies the description of a literary thriller: B A Shapiro, The Art Forger, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2013.
The art of the sadly-extinct thylacine
In this well-researched, tightly-plotted and enjoyable novel, an artist is faced with difficult choices when asked to forge a Degas painting which had originally disappeared in the infamous robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. With its appealing characters and moral complexities, this book fully justifies the description of a literary thriller: B A Shapiro, The Art Forger, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2013.
The art of the sadly-extinct thylacine
Carol Freeman investigates how images of the Tasmanian Tiger ("Thylacine") shaped and distorted governmental and popular attitudes to the animal, with consequential effects on its ability to survive. Extraordinarily comprehensive and beautifully produced, this is an important contribution to the the issue of species survival: Carol Freeman, Paper Tiger: How Pictures Shaped the Thylacine, Forty South, Hobart 2014. http://www.carolfreeman.net/paper_tiger.html
Impressions of an Impressionist art dealer
Paul Durand-Ruel was a Parisian art dealer who was one of the first to appreciate the appeal of the then-radical new Impressionist painters such as Monet, Renoir, Morisot and Pissarro, and played a major role in actively supporting and exhibiting their works. By the end of the nineteenth century, he had become one of the best-known and influential players on the international art scene.His memoirs, now translated into English for the first time, together with a selection of letters and other biographical material, offer intriguing insights into his era and the painters that he worked with: Paul Durand-Ruel, Memoirs of the First Impressionist Art Dealer 1831-1922, Flammarion, Paris 2014.
Morris gets the flavour of Carpaccio
Now 88, the British travel writer and historian Jan Morris has written an affectionate tribute to Vittore Carpacccio, the 15/16th chronicler of Venetian life. Morris has been under the spell of this rather neglected artist for most of her life, having lived in Italy and written the classic Venice back in 1960. She writes with charm and subjective insights into the people, animals, boats and buildings that populate Carpaccio’s detailed but accessible world. The book is in a small format, but is beautifully and comprehensively illustrated. While Morris insists that she is “no connoisseur, cultural scholar or art historian”, I would guess that this little gem of a book will attract more people to painting (and to Carpaccio and Venice) than any number of more scholarly tomes. Jan Morris, Ciao, Carpaccio! An Infatuation, Liveright Publishing Co, New York/London 2014.
Forger gets it right, at last
After the convicted forger Joseph Lycett was transported to Australia in 1811, he took up a career as an artist, chronicling the very early years of the fledgling colony. Among his most memorable works are his depictions of the lives of the indigenous people -- hunting, fishing, dancing, managing the land, gathering food, interacting with their families and participating in ceremonies. As might be expected of a former forger, these works have proved to be remarkably accurate portrayals of the local inhabitants' lives before European influence was significantly felt. In this beautifully illustrated new book, indigenous historian Professor John Maynard takes a close look at 20 of these paintings, explaining exactly what is happening, and why (John Maynard, True Light and Shade: An Aboriginal Perspective of Joseph Lycett's Art. National Library of Australia, Canberra, 2014).
How art acquires value
Long-time art auctioneer and dealer Philip Hook provides some interesting insights into how the art world operates and how art acquires its financial value. He concludes that the ideal work should be authentic, recognisable and have an interesting or impressive provenance. It should also be in good condition, come from a desirable stage in the artist’s development, be on a suitable subject and have “wall-power”. The artist should be fashionable, artistically influential and preferably have an interesting back story (tragic romance goes a long way). Philip Hook, Breakfast at Sotheby’s: An A-Z of the Art World, Penguin Books, 2013.
Buildings designed to please
In this beautifully-produced and substantial book, the authors examine 50 great architectural works from the last 2,000 years. Covering works as diverse as Angkor Wat and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the book combines impressive photography, interesting text and some innovative use of cut-outs and overlays to help readers appreciate key design features. A pleasure to explore, and definitely not just another pretty coffee table book. Discovering Architecture: How the World's Great Buildings Were Designed and Built, by Philip Jodido and Elizabeth Dowling, Universe, 2013.
Shocking, immoral and sacrilegious
The Museum of Scandals is the latest in a line of recent publications that focus on artworks that have shocked or provoked their audiences. Covering 80 works from the Renaissance to the present, and reflecting changing standards over time, its separate chapters deal with the sacrilegious (from Michelangelo's Last Judgment to Serrano's Piss Christ), the politically incorrect (Goya's Los Caprichos, Dix's The Trench), the sexual (Ingres' The Turkish Bath to Goldin's explicit photograph of naked young girls) and the transgressive (Rembrandt's Night Watch to modern art movements). It's interesting, well illustrated and fairly short. The Museum of Scandals: Art that Shocked the World, by Elea Baucheron and Diane Routex (Prestel, 2013).
Lifting the veil on a neglected artist
Paula Modersohn-Becker was – in Germaine Greer’s words – exceptionally gifted, strongly motivated and a great painter. In 1906, she was also, apparently, the first modern woman to create a nude self-portrait. But she only ever sold one painting, out of the 259 that she did during her short and difficult lifetime. In this first major biography of the artist, Diane Radyicki draws on previously untranslated letters and diaries to create a comprehensive account of the artist’s belated rise from relative obscurity to a growing cult status: Paula Modersohn-Becker: The First Modern Woman Artist, Yale University Press, 2013.
Paris captured in the lens
You may feel that you’ve already seen enough iconic photographs of Paris. But you may still be beguiled by this collection of 500 striking images of life in the city and the many historic events and transformations that have occurred there since photography was invented back in 1839. Covering the work of 150 photographers from Daguerre and Nadar onwards, and – importantly – supplemented by an informative text, this book is handsomely produced and full of interest, not least for its photos of artists in their natural habitats: Jean Claude Gautrand (ed) Paris: Portrait of a City, Taschen, 2012. And check out our article on the early influences of photography.
It came from the vault...
Have you ever wondered what secrets lie hidden in the vaults of museums? Molly Oldfield has gone behind the scenes to discover some intriguing treasures that are considered too precious to display – from a piece of Sir Isaac Newton’s famous apple tree, to a space suit covered in moondust, to Margot Fonteyn’s tutu. The book is handsomely produced and engagingly written, though the illustrations are disappointingly tiny. Molly Oldfield, The Secret Museum, Collins, London, 2013.
Art history through its major thinkers
The Books that Shaped Art History presents a series of commissioned essays on major books written by 16 major figures in art history. Each essay focuses on a single book, with critical analysis being enlivened with details of the personalities involved and the context in which the book was written. The essays, written by art critics and curators, cover works by writers such as Bernard Berenson, Roger Fry, Kenneth Clark, Ernst Gombrich, Clement Greenberg and Svetlana Alpers. The Books that Shaped Art History: from Gombrich and Greenberg to Alpers and Krauss, ed by Richard Shone and Jean-Paul Stonard, Thames and Hudson, 2013.
The heavy end of the art market
This weighty 2-volume reference for specialists and advisers in the art business covers a wide range of legal, business, financial planning and tax information: Ralph E Lerner and Judith Bresler (eds), Art Law: The Guide for Collectors, Investors, Dealers and Artists, Practising Law Institute, 4th edition, 2012.
Not just kids' stuff
Jacky and Suzy Klein have written a colourful, bright, innovative and interesting introduction to contemporary art, aimed at older children, but invaluable for baffled parents too. Although it focuses on MoMA works, it covers the full spectrum from painting and film through to photography and installation. What is Contemporary Art? A Children’s Guide, Thames and Hudson, 2012.
Let me take you back...
British historian Ian Mortimer takes us back to the sixteenth century to experience what it must have been like living in England during the Elizabethan era. He finds that the so-called Golden Age was also a time of uncertainty and upheaval, with great advances and triumphs being accompanied by poverty, disease and famine.The Time Travellers' Guide to Elizabethan England, The Bodley Head, London, 2012.
A collection of collectors
The nineteenth century craze for collecting almost every conceivable type of art or historical object had far-reaching consequences for the rise of the great museums and the public's attitude to culture. Jacqueline Yallop examines the phenomenon through the lives of five major Victorian collectors, who between them ranged "from the eccentric and obsessive to the scholarly and professional": Magpies, Squirrels & Thieves: How the Victorians Collected the World (Atlantic Books, London, 2011.
Dickens on art
Van Gogh once commented that "no writer ....is so much a painter and a black-and-white artist as Dickens". Yet Charles Dickens' connections with art have rarely been seriously examined. Dickens and the Artists rectifies that omission by examining his artistic tastes, his personal friendships with artists such as William Powell Frith and Daniel Maclise, and his influence on the art of his times. Mark Bills (ed), Dickens and the Artists,Yale University Press, 2012.
Culture as a two way street
It’s often said that modern American culture – in art, film and music – threatens to overwhelm the traditions, cultures and even the languages of other countries. Richard Pells argues, however, that American culture itself has been heavily dependent on European and other foreign intellectual and artistic influences. Richard Pells, Modernist America: Art, Music, Movies, and the Globalizaion of American Culture, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2011.
How to be famous yet still obscure
Although more has been written about the Venetian master Titian than about any other Renaissance artist apart from Michelangelo, Sheila Hale's massive new 800-page biography is the most comprehensive treatment in more than 100 years. Even though aspects of Titian's private life remain oddly obscure, Hale's book seems destined to become the definitive account of this focused, ambitious, prolific and outstandingly-talented artist. Titian: His Life HarperPress, London, 2012.
Rocking the boats
Hokusai's woodblock print The Great Wave, depicting a huge, foam-flecked blue breaker dwarfing both the nearby fishing craft and the distant Mt Fuji, is one of the most recognisable images in Japanese art. In this entertaining, well-illustrated small book, the Head of the Japanese Collections at the British Museum examines the work's role inside Japan and its influences on artists worldwide. Timothy Clark, Hokusai's Great Wave, British Museum Press, London 2011.
What’s it worth?
Experienced art dealer Michael Findlay provides a lively and accessible insider’s guide to determining “value” in today’s high-end art market – whether it be commercial value of the work, its social value or (most elusive of all), its intrinsic value. The Value of Art: Money, Power, Beauty, Prestel, 2012.
Art from the inside
Art and music critic Martin Gayford had the extraordinary opportunity of sitting for a portrait by Lucian Freud, and gives us a fresh and intriguing perspective on the experience. With the sittings extending over many months, both artist and sitter clearly established a warm rapport, and the result is an illuminating insight into the process of making art, as well as an entertaining account of Freud's penetrating and often witty views on life, art and other artists. Man with a Blue Scarf: On Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud, Thames and Hudson 2010.
Searching for truth in art
Publicly declaring a work to be inauthentic is no longer just an expression of opinion. Increasingly, it has become a legal minefield, with reputations, egos, financial interests and even national pride all on the line. In this highly readable and well-researched book, Henk Tromp examines this intriguing topic through the lens of the 20th century controversies that raged over the authenticity of paintings that had previously been attributed to Van Gogh. A Real Van Gogh: How the Art World Struggles with Truth, Amsterdam University Press, 2010.
Tintin no laughing matter
With Sotheby’s reportedly offering the cover plate of Hergé's 1942 classic The Shooting Star with an auction estimate of €220,000 to €240,000, it seems that comic book art has come a long way along the path of respectability. Hergé himself – or rather Georges Rémi, to give him his real name – seems to have been a rather elusive character, but his most famous creation Tintin has enjoyed astonishing longevity. Benoît Peeters has written perhaps the definitive account of his life and work in Hergé, Son of Tintin, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2012.
The lowdown on a mysterious wedding
Following her earlier book on the Bayeaux Tapestry, Carola Hicks sets out to unravel the story behind Jan van Eyck’s enigmatic Arnolfini Portrait. The book combines an analysis of the painting itself with an equally-intriguing account of its subsequent history. Girl in a Green Gown: The History and Mystery of the Arnolfini Portrait, by Carola Hicks, Chatto and Windus, 2012.
Exploring Rome’s cultural history
Art critic and writer Robert Hughes proves to be an excellent guide to the cultural history of Rome. Covering almost 3,000 years – from Romulus and Remus to Berlusconi – this book is particularly strong in its treatment of the Renaissance onwards. A valuable and often entertaining travel (or armchair) companion. Rome, by Robert Hughes (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2011).
Victory, chivalry and fame
The massive Surrender of Breda, a rare combination of propaganda and chivalry, is one of Diego Velásquez's most famous works. In his latest book, Anthony Bailey uses the painting as a springboard to provide a penetrating portrait of the artist and his times. Velásquez and the Surrender of Breda: The Making of a Masterpiece by Anthony Bailey (Henry Holt, 2011).
Deciphering hieroglyphs
The decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs, originally made possible by the fortuitous discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799, is made accessible to just about everyone in Bill Manley’s new 160 page step-by-step guide. It’s a well-written, informative and clearly illustrated introduction to an intriguing topic. And, of course, a wonderful gift for your dear old mummy. Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners, by Bill Manley (Thames & Hudson, London, 2012).
Art without the "godless" straight line
It’s not exactly recent, but Harry Rand’s beautifully-illustrated guide to the life and work of the late Friedensreich Hundertwasser provides a beguiling introduction to this inimitable Austrian artist, architect and environmental activist. Hundertwasser’s wildly colourful and organic style – and his hatred of “godless” straight lines – found expression in everything from paintings to building facades, tapestries, stamps and even national flags: Hundertwasser, by Harry Rand (Taschen Books 2003)
Living history
Peter Robb, author of M and Midnight in Sicily, often challenges and sometimes overwhelms readers with his erudition and unexpected interests, so this wide-ranging collection of essays written over almost 30 years provides plenty to think about. Topics range from the Aboriginal activist Marcia Langton to the painter Caravaggio, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, sexual tourism, serial killers, the Cosa Nostra and… well, you get the idea. Lives, by Peter Robb (Black Inc 2012)
The Affair that divided France
The monumental miscarriage of justice known as the Dreyfus Affair is probably the most famous cause célèbre in French history, highlighting deep and sometimes violent schisms in French society over attitudes to nationalism, tradition, loyalty, justice, individual rights, religion and anti-Semitism. Ruth Harris has taken a step back to gain a new historical perspective on this extraordinary episode. The Man on Devil’s Island: Alfred Dreyfus and the Affair that Divided France, by Ruth Harris (Allen Lane, London 2010).
Dogs in Australian Art
Although its title is a little unpromising, Dogs in Australian Art turns out to be a handsomely produced, well-informed and entertaining examination of “how dogs came to inspire and shape the art of a nation”. Author Steven Miller argues that as artists have loved and lived with dogs, observed them intently and celebrated them in their work, they can provide “a useful lens though which to view a tradition”: Dogs in Australian Art, by Steven Miller (Wakefield Press 2011)
© Philip McCouat 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
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Impressions of an Impressionist art dealer
Paul Durand-Ruel was a Parisian art dealer who was one of the first to appreciate the appeal of the then-radical new Impressionist painters such as Monet, Renoir, Morisot and Pissarro, and played a major role in actively supporting and exhibiting their works. By the end of the nineteenth century, he had become one of the best-known and influential players on the international art scene.His memoirs, now translated into English for the first time, together with a selection of letters and other biographical material, offer intriguing insights into his era and the painters that he worked with: Paul Durand-Ruel, Memoirs of the First Impressionist Art Dealer 1831-1922, Flammarion, Paris 2014.
Morris gets the flavour of Carpaccio
Now 88, the British travel writer and historian Jan Morris has written an affectionate tribute to Vittore Carpacccio, the 15/16th chronicler of Venetian life. Morris has been under the spell of this rather neglected artist for most of her life, having lived in Italy and written the classic Venice back in 1960. She writes with charm and subjective insights into the people, animals, boats and buildings that populate Carpaccio’s detailed but accessible world. The book is in a small format, but is beautifully and comprehensively illustrated. While Morris insists that she is “no connoisseur, cultural scholar or art historian”, I would guess that this little gem of a book will attract more people to painting (and to Carpaccio and Venice) than any number of more scholarly tomes. Jan Morris, Ciao, Carpaccio! An Infatuation, Liveright Publishing Co, New York/London 2014.
Forger gets it right, at last
After the convicted forger Joseph Lycett was transported to Australia in 1811, he took up a career as an artist, chronicling the very early years of the fledgling colony. Among his most memorable works are his depictions of the lives of the indigenous people -- hunting, fishing, dancing, managing the land, gathering food, interacting with their families and participating in ceremonies. As might be expected of a former forger, these works have proved to be remarkably accurate portrayals of the local inhabitants' lives before European influence was significantly felt. In this beautifully illustrated new book, indigenous historian Professor John Maynard takes a close look at 20 of these paintings, explaining exactly what is happening, and why (John Maynard, True Light and Shade: An Aboriginal Perspective of Joseph Lycett's Art. National Library of Australia, Canberra, 2014).
How art acquires value
Long-time art auctioneer and dealer Philip Hook provides some interesting insights into how the art world operates and how art acquires its financial value. He concludes that the ideal work should be authentic, recognisable and have an interesting or impressive provenance. It should also be in good condition, come from a desirable stage in the artist’s development, be on a suitable subject and have “wall-power”. The artist should be fashionable, artistically influential and preferably have an interesting back story (tragic romance goes a long way). Philip Hook, Breakfast at Sotheby’s: An A-Z of the Art World, Penguin Books, 2013.
Buildings designed to please
In this beautifully-produced and substantial book, the authors examine 50 great architectural works from the last 2,000 years. Covering works as diverse as Angkor Wat and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the book combines impressive photography, interesting text and some innovative use of cut-outs and overlays to help readers appreciate key design features. A pleasure to explore, and definitely not just another pretty coffee table book. Discovering Architecture: How the World's Great Buildings Were Designed and Built, by Philip Jodido and Elizabeth Dowling, Universe, 2013.
Shocking, immoral and sacrilegious
The Museum of Scandals is the latest in a line of recent publications that focus on artworks that have shocked or provoked their audiences. Covering 80 works from the Renaissance to the present, and reflecting changing standards over time, its separate chapters deal with the sacrilegious (from Michelangelo's Last Judgment to Serrano's Piss Christ), the politically incorrect (Goya's Los Caprichos, Dix's The Trench), the sexual (Ingres' The Turkish Bath to Goldin's explicit photograph of naked young girls) and the transgressive (Rembrandt's Night Watch to modern art movements). It's interesting, well illustrated and fairly short. The Museum of Scandals: Art that Shocked the World, by Elea Baucheron and Diane Routex (Prestel, 2013).
Lifting the veil on a neglected artist
Paula Modersohn-Becker was – in Germaine Greer’s words – exceptionally gifted, strongly motivated and a great painter. In 1906, she was also, apparently, the first modern woman to create a nude self-portrait. But she only ever sold one painting, out of the 259 that she did during her short and difficult lifetime. In this first major biography of the artist, Diane Radyicki draws on previously untranslated letters and diaries to create a comprehensive account of the artist’s belated rise from relative obscurity to a growing cult status: Paula Modersohn-Becker: The First Modern Woman Artist, Yale University Press, 2013.
Paris captured in the lens
You may feel that you’ve already seen enough iconic photographs of Paris. But you may still be beguiled by this collection of 500 striking images of life in the city and the many historic events and transformations that have occurred there since photography was invented back in 1839. Covering the work of 150 photographers from Daguerre and Nadar onwards, and – importantly – supplemented by an informative text, this book is handsomely produced and full of interest, not least for its photos of artists in their natural habitats: Jean Claude Gautrand (ed) Paris: Portrait of a City, Taschen, 2012. And check out our article on the early influences of photography.
It came from the vault...
Have you ever wondered what secrets lie hidden in the vaults of museums? Molly Oldfield has gone behind the scenes to discover some intriguing treasures that are considered too precious to display – from a piece of Sir Isaac Newton’s famous apple tree, to a space suit covered in moondust, to Margot Fonteyn’s tutu. The book is handsomely produced and engagingly written, though the illustrations are disappointingly tiny. Molly Oldfield, The Secret Museum, Collins, London, 2013.
Art history through its major thinkers
The Books that Shaped Art History presents a series of commissioned essays on major books written by 16 major figures in art history. Each essay focuses on a single book, with critical analysis being enlivened with details of the personalities involved and the context in which the book was written. The essays, written by art critics and curators, cover works by writers such as Bernard Berenson, Roger Fry, Kenneth Clark, Ernst Gombrich, Clement Greenberg and Svetlana Alpers. The Books that Shaped Art History: from Gombrich and Greenberg to Alpers and Krauss, ed by Richard Shone and Jean-Paul Stonard, Thames and Hudson, 2013.
The heavy end of the art market
This weighty 2-volume reference for specialists and advisers in the art business covers a wide range of legal, business, financial planning and tax information: Ralph E Lerner and Judith Bresler (eds), Art Law: The Guide for Collectors, Investors, Dealers and Artists, Practising Law Institute, 4th edition, 2012.
Not just kids' stuff
Jacky and Suzy Klein have written a colourful, bright, innovative and interesting introduction to contemporary art, aimed at older children, but invaluable for baffled parents too. Although it focuses on MoMA works, it covers the full spectrum from painting and film through to photography and installation. What is Contemporary Art? A Children’s Guide, Thames and Hudson, 2012.
Let me take you back...
British historian Ian Mortimer takes us back to the sixteenth century to experience what it must have been like living in England during the Elizabethan era. He finds that the so-called Golden Age was also a time of uncertainty and upheaval, with great advances and triumphs being accompanied by poverty, disease and famine.The Time Travellers' Guide to Elizabethan England, The Bodley Head, London, 2012.
A collection of collectors
The nineteenth century craze for collecting almost every conceivable type of art or historical object had far-reaching consequences for the rise of the great museums and the public's attitude to culture. Jacqueline Yallop examines the phenomenon through the lives of five major Victorian collectors, who between them ranged "from the eccentric and obsessive to the scholarly and professional": Magpies, Squirrels & Thieves: How the Victorians Collected the World (Atlantic Books, London, 2011.
Dickens on art
Van Gogh once commented that "no writer ....is so much a painter and a black-and-white artist as Dickens". Yet Charles Dickens' connections with art have rarely been seriously examined. Dickens and the Artists rectifies that omission by examining his artistic tastes, his personal friendships with artists such as William Powell Frith and Daniel Maclise, and his influence on the art of his times. Mark Bills (ed), Dickens and the Artists,Yale University Press, 2012.
Culture as a two way street
It’s often said that modern American culture – in art, film and music – threatens to overwhelm the traditions, cultures and even the languages of other countries. Richard Pells argues, however, that American culture itself has been heavily dependent on European and other foreign intellectual and artistic influences. Richard Pells, Modernist America: Art, Music, Movies, and the Globalizaion of American Culture, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2011.
How to be famous yet still obscure
Although more has been written about the Venetian master Titian than about any other Renaissance artist apart from Michelangelo, Sheila Hale's massive new 800-page biography is the most comprehensive treatment in more than 100 years. Even though aspects of Titian's private life remain oddly obscure, Hale's book seems destined to become the definitive account of this focused, ambitious, prolific and outstandingly-talented artist. Titian: His Life HarperPress, London, 2012.
Rocking the boats
Hokusai's woodblock print The Great Wave, depicting a huge, foam-flecked blue breaker dwarfing both the nearby fishing craft and the distant Mt Fuji, is one of the most recognisable images in Japanese art. In this entertaining, well-illustrated small book, the Head of the Japanese Collections at the British Museum examines the work's role inside Japan and its influences on artists worldwide. Timothy Clark, Hokusai's Great Wave, British Museum Press, London 2011.
What’s it worth?
Experienced art dealer Michael Findlay provides a lively and accessible insider’s guide to determining “value” in today’s high-end art market – whether it be commercial value of the work, its social value or (most elusive of all), its intrinsic value. The Value of Art: Money, Power, Beauty, Prestel, 2012.
Art from the inside
Art and music critic Martin Gayford had the extraordinary opportunity of sitting for a portrait by Lucian Freud, and gives us a fresh and intriguing perspective on the experience. With the sittings extending over many months, both artist and sitter clearly established a warm rapport, and the result is an illuminating insight into the process of making art, as well as an entertaining account of Freud's penetrating and often witty views on life, art and other artists. Man with a Blue Scarf: On Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud, Thames and Hudson 2010.
Searching for truth in art
Publicly declaring a work to be inauthentic is no longer just an expression of opinion. Increasingly, it has become a legal minefield, with reputations, egos, financial interests and even national pride all on the line. In this highly readable and well-researched book, Henk Tromp examines this intriguing topic through the lens of the 20th century controversies that raged over the authenticity of paintings that had previously been attributed to Van Gogh. A Real Van Gogh: How the Art World Struggles with Truth, Amsterdam University Press, 2010.
Tintin no laughing matter
With Sotheby’s reportedly offering the cover plate of Hergé's 1942 classic The Shooting Star with an auction estimate of €220,000 to €240,000, it seems that comic book art has come a long way along the path of respectability. Hergé himself – or rather Georges Rémi, to give him his real name – seems to have been a rather elusive character, but his most famous creation Tintin has enjoyed astonishing longevity. Benoît Peeters has written perhaps the definitive account of his life and work in Hergé, Son of Tintin, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2012.
The lowdown on a mysterious wedding
Following her earlier book on the Bayeaux Tapestry, Carola Hicks sets out to unravel the story behind Jan van Eyck’s enigmatic Arnolfini Portrait. The book combines an analysis of the painting itself with an equally-intriguing account of its subsequent history. Girl in a Green Gown: The History and Mystery of the Arnolfini Portrait, by Carola Hicks, Chatto and Windus, 2012.
Exploring Rome’s cultural history
Art critic and writer Robert Hughes proves to be an excellent guide to the cultural history of Rome. Covering almost 3,000 years – from Romulus and Remus to Berlusconi – this book is particularly strong in its treatment of the Renaissance onwards. A valuable and often entertaining travel (or armchair) companion. Rome, by Robert Hughes (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2011).
Victory, chivalry and fame
The massive Surrender of Breda, a rare combination of propaganda and chivalry, is one of Diego Velásquez's most famous works. In his latest book, Anthony Bailey uses the painting as a springboard to provide a penetrating portrait of the artist and his times. Velásquez and the Surrender of Breda: The Making of a Masterpiece by Anthony Bailey (Henry Holt, 2011).
Deciphering hieroglyphs
The decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs, originally made possible by the fortuitous discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799, is made accessible to just about everyone in Bill Manley’s new 160 page step-by-step guide. It’s a well-written, informative and clearly illustrated introduction to an intriguing topic. And, of course, a wonderful gift for your dear old mummy. Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners, by Bill Manley (Thames & Hudson, London, 2012).
Art without the "godless" straight line
It’s not exactly recent, but Harry Rand’s beautifully-illustrated guide to the life and work of the late Friedensreich Hundertwasser provides a beguiling introduction to this inimitable Austrian artist, architect and environmental activist. Hundertwasser’s wildly colourful and organic style – and his hatred of “godless” straight lines – found expression in everything from paintings to building facades, tapestries, stamps and even national flags: Hundertwasser, by Harry Rand (Taschen Books 2003)
Living history
Peter Robb, author of M and Midnight in Sicily, often challenges and sometimes overwhelms readers with his erudition and unexpected interests, so this wide-ranging collection of essays written over almost 30 years provides plenty to think about. Topics range from the Aboriginal activist Marcia Langton to the painter Caravaggio, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, sexual tourism, serial killers, the Cosa Nostra and… well, you get the idea. Lives, by Peter Robb (Black Inc 2012)
The Affair that divided France
The monumental miscarriage of justice known as the Dreyfus Affair is probably the most famous cause célèbre in French history, highlighting deep and sometimes violent schisms in French society over attitudes to nationalism, tradition, loyalty, justice, individual rights, religion and anti-Semitism. Ruth Harris has taken a step back to gain a new historical perspective on this extraordinary episode. The Man on Devil’s Island: Alfred Dreyfus and the Affair that Divided France, by Ruth Harris (Allen Lane, London 2010).
Dogs in Australian Art
Although its title is a little unpromising, Dogs in Australian Art turns out to be a handsomely produced, well-informed and entertaining examination of “how dogs came to inspire and shape the art of a nation”. Author Steven Miller argues that as artists have loved and lived with dogs, observed them intently and celebrated them in their work, they can provide “a useful lens though which to view a tradition”: Dogs in Australian Art, by Steven Miller (Wakefield Press 2011)
© Philip McCouat 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
Return to Home