No comments about Manet; [biographical and critical study (The Taste of our time, v. 14).

1 comments about Manet by Himself.

1. It's a pity that this book is out of print, but it is still widely available through second hand outlets. Beware of the Time Warner series that were published sometime around 2004, it is _heavily_ abridged and not worth buying ( I made that mistake with Degas' volume).
   
   The selected letters are very good, but there is very little from whom you might expect, like Degas, Morisot, Monet, Renoir, etc. Mainly the letters deal with art dealers, varied friends (Zola & Baudelaire are featured thoroughly), and family members. The catalogue of prints, sketches, pastels and finished paintings is worth the purchase alone though. I have several artbooks on Manet but this one had many works that I was unfamiliar with. If you are serious about studying Manet, I would definitely recommend this.
   
   If you are looking for a window into Manet's relationships with the other members of the Guerbois group, I would recommend _Impressionists Side by Side_ by Barbara Ehrlich White, or else _The Private Lives of the Impressionists_ by Sue Roe (each delivers a more contiguous narrative of the movement and the artists' interactions).

2 comments about Manet and the Execution of Emperor Maximillian.

1. The author interestingly hints that Manet explains, through his paintings, why Maximilian was offered the throne of Mexico, and later abandoned, by Napoleon III. This interpretation provides a historical perspective, different from the generally accepted.



2. Every art history student is familiar with Manet's painting of the Execution of Maximillian. Most have read of the history. This book is the record of a wonderful exhibition at MOMA that has brought together most of the collection--studies, lithos, sketches. You will follow the development: from Goya's inspiration through the original concept of Mexican soldiers administering the execution. Then, the different versions of the final painting in which Manet substitutes French soldiers for the Mexicans, blaming Napoleon for the death because he deserted Maximillian. Manet's politics, influenced by his parents and the injustice and error-ridden actions of Napoleon III, led him to make a statement with his art. (Those events in Mexico remind me of the mess in Iraq.) Make it to the show if you can--in any case this volume should be in every art historian's library.

No comments about Manet's 'Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe' (Masterpieces of Western Painting).

3 comments about Manet: The Still Life Paintings.

1. The beautifully reproduced paintings. with some detail shots, in this potent package remind us that Manet truly is the 'father of modernism.' The still lifes of fruit alone would make this book a must have for any art book lover. His peaches, lemons, strawberries and plums are so full of longing, sadness, bliss and sheer beauty that they stop you in your tracks. I don't know how else to say it: Manet was an artist of cosmic proportions. The transcenant nature of the work juxtaposed against the audacious technique rightfully set Manet at the forefront of the western cannon.



2. I journeyed to the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore to see the exhibition. "MANET - The Still Life Paintings" which is on view until April 22, 2001. The show was previously at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. It is a lovely, intimate show. The majority of these gorgeous still lifes of fruits, vegetables and flowers were painted in the last three years of Manet's life. Unfortunately, the catalogue does not begin to do these beautful oil paintings and watercolors justice. The book's colorplates are of unsatisfactory quality and fail to capture the sumptuousness of these touching works of art. The book measures just shy of 9 inches by 9 inches, too small to get any partial enjoyment after seeing the exhibition. The text does not advance art scholarship. Not worth the price.



3. This book is certainly among the best overviews of Manet's still-life paintings. If you enjoy direct, descriptive paintings with rich color, this book is likely to interest you. I especially liked seeing the "unfinished" basket of pears on page 107 (the kind of work usually left out of such books), which gave me a good idea of how Manet approached his still-lifes of this period. By the way, overall, the reproductions are very good (of course, paintings are never as good in print as in real life).
   
   AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MY ART BOOK REVIEWS: It might seem as though I rate most art books very favorably. The reason for this is that I usually visit my local library before buying a book. I'll look at all (in print and out of print) of the Rembrandt (for example) books and choose my favorite one to purchase. In the case of an artist's monograph, I try to choose one or two comprehensive books for each artist. These are generally large, well illustrated hardcovers with above average reproduction quality and informative text, often by one of the leading scholars on the artist. Thus, by the time I purchase a book, I have already found it to be among the best available on the subject. This is the best book of Manet's still-lifes that I could find. My copy is a hardcover.

3 comments about Olympia: Paris in the Age of Manet.

1. Paris during the reign of Louis Napoleon was a fascinating period, and its figures were larger than life: Napoleon, Eugenie, Berlioz, Wagner, Hugo, Zola, Manet, Monet and the "great horizontals". Americans, English, Germans, Italians and Russians went to Paris for culture, art and, let's face it, a little bit of sex. Unfortunately, this period needs a first-rate historian and Otto Friedrich is not that. You read "Olympia" in spite of the writer, as the history of a fascinating time and the men and women who made it great.



2. This book is mostly a collection of spicy anecdotes, with a little historical narrative thrown in. If you're looking for any kind of in-depth analysis of the era, or of Manet's art, look elsewhere; if you want a light read, it's OK.



3. This book is a fascinating and fun read about the people and culture of Manet's time. It may not be for someone looking for technical historical accuracy or for an indepth review of Manet the artist, but if you're looking to learn about this period of time and enjoy the ride, this one's for you.

1 comments about Manet, Monet, and the Gare Saint-Lazare.

1. In Paris of the 1860s, Baron Haussman decreed the Quartier de l'Europe. Centered around a vastly enlarged Saint-Lazare railroad station - the tracks of which were to run below a monumental bridge fed by six dramatically designed and expensively developed new streets - the neighborhood became a symbol of modernism. As such it attracted a palette of "progressive" painters: not only did Manet and Monet have studios there and produce great canvases inspired by its masses, perspectives, light, and air; so, too, did the academically trained essentialist Caillebotte, who supported his avant-garde friends' work with his own inherited wealth. This richly documented catalogue (for a 1998 exhibit at the Musée d'Orsay and the National Gallery of Washington) supplements an awkwardly organized narrative with maps, photographs, and reproductions that frequently (but not invariably) do justice to the great paintings. (Why, for instance, is Caillebotte's "Paris Street, Rainy Day" shown in monochrome?) The volume also introduces the reader to fine, minor impressionists like Norbert Goeneutte and a precursor of surrealism, Jean Béraud, who combined quasi-photographic effects with collage to suggest a world of dream. All in all, a useful contribution to the cultural study of art

No comments about Eyewitness Art: Manet.

1 comments about Manet: A Visionary Impressionist.

1. This is a GREAT BOOK!!!! You do not have to know anything about art history to be able to appreciate and admire Manet's paintings. Lallemand is a wonderful author. He portrays his subject in an honest way without condemning or praising him, letting the reader decide. The thing I like about the books that Lallemand writes--3 that I know of--is that they are these oversized coffee table books (144 pages), filled with info on the artist, and best of all, IN COLOR PAINTINGS ON EVERY PAGE. This is not like other art books, where the majority of paintings are in black and white, rather the reader gets to savor every picture because they are in color. Plus, there are details and close ups of some of the more famous paintings. And there are over 100 paintings. (Not tiny pictures either, whole pages, two pages even, are used to show the paintings.) [...] I hope everyone who enjoys art owns this book. It is a joy to look through and see the artistry and mastery of Manet.

3 comments about Edouard Manet: Rebel in a Frock Coat.

1. Beth Archer Brombert's Edouard Manet: Rebel in a Frock Coat is a must-have for anyone who loves 19th century art, especially that of the great Manet. Brombert has clearly done her research; not only does she critically examine the works of past art historians, she also analyses primary documents. Brombert writes well, clean and concise. The book is fresh and intriguing. I am a graduate student working on Manet's art and this book was a delight to read.



2. a disappointing read.

   if you like speculation unsupported by the facts, then this is the book for you.




3. In my opinion...one of the best books written on Edouard Manet. Well researched and enjoyable to read. Any Manet reader cannot pass this book up!!