I just grabbed this at the library because it was there. It's graphic-y...lots of drawings where I would have preferred photographs. I guess there is I just grabbed this at the library because it was there. It's graphic-y...lots of drawings where I would have preferred photographs. I guess there is a whole series of these books. It's a perfectly good introduction to an artist. ...more
I'll give this three stars because it's a very pretty little book. The letters to her mother, however, are not especially compelling. I mean it's wondI'll give this three stars because it's a very pretty little book. The letters to her mother, however, are not especially compelling. I mean it's wonderful that they exist, but as fascinating reading material...eh. Not a lot of pictures, but the ones that are there are swell. So if you have a Frida book collection, it would be nice to add, I suppose. ...more
This book began well, and the conclusion is well worth reading. As for the rest, well, to each his own, but he went off on spiels that were just a bitThis book began well, and the conclusion is well worth reading. As for the rest, well, to each his own, but he went off on spiels that were just a bit too artsy fartsy for me to follow. ...more
3.5 This was quite good. Of course how a person feels about it will depend on how interested they are in the subject, because it's very detailed. If I3.5 This was quite good. Of course how a person feels about it will depend on how interested they are in the subject, because it's very detailed. If I had tried to read it straight through I might have been a little overwhelmed, but in short doses I had no problem. Sara and Gerald are definitely famous people you have never heard of. Gerald painted for a short time, but otherwise they didn't produce anything themselves, but were certainly good friends and helpmates and muses to those who did. ...more
You know I knew going in this might activate my barf reflex, and I was right...here came this passage in particular: "Dianne--wife, mother, journalistYou know I knew going in this might activate my barf reflex, and I was right...here came this passage in particular: "Dianne--wife, mother, journalist, serious and sensible---morphed into Diana, dancing barefoot under the Tuscan moon and delighting in everything....I became appassionata...taken by passion...I didn't fight this sweet seduction, I indulged it, embraced it, and delighted in it." Wait.. she already told us she was "delighting"..who says that twice in one paragraph??? I can honestly say I have never once in my entire life described myself in that way, I was "delighting". Let me try: "I was delighting in the heady sensation of giving a one star review on Goodreads"...no, I won't, actually. IF you can get past the bragging aspect of this book, how she can just pick up on a whim and go to Italy 20 times a year to the "bemusement" of her perfectly wonderful husband, and how she goes everywhere and does everything and appreciates things you peons wouldn't or couldn't do...it's....not bad. The author does vanish for a lot of it, and there is straight history and background on just about everything Italian, music, art, food, fashion, cars. I did actually learn things. And I know that a lot of people have higher irritation thresholds than me, so if you got through 'dancing under the Tuscan moon" without the urge to puke, then you might just really enjoy this. ...more
I would call this a Nice Book. I liked it, nothing wrong with it. The book is fairly small in size, the pictures are small and not glossy, but that's I would call this a Nice Book. I liked it, nothing wrong with it. The book is fairly small in size, the pictures are small and not glossy, but that's okay, they're nice. The text was readable, although I read this three weeks ago and don't remember much about it already, it was nice enough. And since I love art, and books, painting of people reading books would of course appeal to me, so that's nice, too....more
Beautiful book. As it focuses on this museum's collection, it's more a companion book to the subject then a primary source, but it has some interestinBeautiful book. As it focuses on this museum's collection, it's more a companion book to the subject then a primary source, but it has some interesting tales to tell. ...more
Exactly what it says. One painting per famous artist is analyzed and recreated step by step. Lots of good close ups for those of us who are always getExactly what it says. One painting per famous artist is analyzed and recreated step by step. Lots of good close ups for those of us who are always getting shouted at in art museums for leaning too close to the paintings. ...more
Certainly worth the $2 from the Friends of the Library sale rack. I didn't realize Hassam had painted flags so many times. Nice reproductions, and a gCertainly worth the $2 from the Friends of the Library sale rack. I didn't realize Hassam had painted flags so many times. Nice reproductions, and a good description and analysis of each one....more
Your classic well done coffee table book. I just saw the current Tut exhibit in LA and talked myself out of the $85 companion book in the gift shop. TYour classic well done coffee table book. I just saw the current Tut exhibit in LA and talked myself out of the $85 companion book in the gift shop. This has great clear close up pictures of many of the same items. ...more
Beautiful book, nicely illustrated, but just failed to engage me for some reason, took me forever to wade through it. Could have been half the length,Beautiful book, nicely illustrated, but just failed to engage me for some reason, took me forever to wade through it. Could have been half the length, I think was the problem. The author is young and is obviously enthusiastic about her subject, but for me, too much so. I just kept wanting to tell her, enough already. It was like reading a children's book at times, where they assume you know absolutely nothing about anything. Yes, I KNOW that young girls in the 19th century were taught to sew and embroider and were expected to get married. The circus opened on blah blah date at blah blah place. Fine, I don't need to THEN read "the stands quickly filled with men in their best suits and chicly dressed women who chattered excitedly!" No no, don't torture me with that sort of sentence. I've read many bits and pieces about Suzanne and thought a full length bio might be quite entertaining but I could have just read her Wiki page to fill in the gaps of what I already knew. But don't listen to me, someone else may love this book. I would have thought Suzanne Valadon was a sort of specialty subject but a beginner to this world would do fine with this....more
I will admit that my interest in Emma Hamilton stems mostly from the wonderful paintings of her by George Romney. I could have learned as much detail I will admit that my interest in Emma Hamilton stems mostly from the wonderful paintings of her by George Romney. I could have learned as much detail as I needed to know about her from Wikipedia or the Vivien Leigh movie. But this is a lovely, heavily illustrated book. I've not read anything by Norah Lofts since my youth, and the prose style here seemed very old fashioned.... I would have guessed this was written a lot longer ago than 1978. But, you know, nice pictures....more
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