No comments about Matisse, Picasso, Miro--as I Knew Them.

1 comments about Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Vol 2.

1. After seeing the collection in Madrid a study of Vol 1& 2 were rewarding in so far as each work of art (95% plus ) paintings had an essay regarding the work and aspects of the artists life and style. The paintings in the books and collection were perhaps not typical of the artist they are in deed lovely and worth an art lovers time. These are not coffee table books but give one an opportunity to get a good idea of what Western art is. A. Cinelli, M.D.

2 comments about Masters of Art: Matisse (Masters of Art).

1. This book is a nice overview of the work and life of Matisse. There are many beautiful and brilliantly described colorplates. It is a complete overview of his work. It also makes a beautiful coffee table piece that may inspire conversation.

   I reasoned that because the author choose to feature a later piece by Matisse on the cover the book might emphasize his later work. But when I got the book his later work was only briefly talked about and only 2 of the colorplates were after 1940s.

   Overall it is a nice book to get a sense of Matisse, his work and his life.




2. Matisse did some good interior pictures but many run-of-the-mill nudes and this book has way too many of those

No comments about Henri Matisse: A Retrospective. Softcover, Museum of Modern Art.

1 comments about The Cut-Outs of Henri Matisse.

1. This relatively modest book is nevertheless the single best work to have appeared on Matisse's great cut-outs (with the exception of a 1977 National Gallery of Art catalogue), which he made from 1947-1954. John Elderfield's essay discusses the genesis of the cut-outs, and places them in the context of 20th century art in an elegant manner which is refreshingly free of art-historical jargon. Elderfield's essay is followed by a section of color plates which, for the most part, are superbly designed and arranged. Matisse's delicious eye-candy is allowed to speak for itself. The reader is continually dazzled by the purity of color and simplicity of form, and the chronological arrangement of the plates seems to re-create the genesis of the works as they evolved in the artist's mind. However, the single problem I have with this otherwise nearly perfect book is that a number of the plates are far too small, particularly the illustration of the "Large Decoration With ! Masks," which reduces a 30-foot cut-out to the size of a postage stamp, neatly destroying any ability to imagine the beauty of the original work. Also, the color reproduction could be better - the plates, except in one particular print run I have come across, have an odd, bleached or washed-out look that lessens the impact of Matisse's colors. Nevertheless, I still recommend the book for its excellent design and writing. It is a marvelous introduction to the aesthetics behind some of the most simple yet beautiful works of 20th century art.

No comments about Henri Matisse: Matisse et l'Italie.

No comments about Matisse (Twentieth Century Masters).

No comments about A Century of Artists Books.

No comments about Matisse: The Graphic Work.

1 comments about Henri Matisse: A Bio-Bibliography (Bio-Bibliographies in Art and Architecture).

1. see above! This is the best of the BEST on Matisse,,we flew to NY just to see the show at MOMA,; with this book, I keep seeing new images and genius!