Testament: The Life and Art of Frank Frazetta

by Frank Frazetta (Artist), Cathy Fenner (Editor), Arnie Fenner (Editor)

This final entry in Arnie and Cathy Fenner’s Frazetta trilogy features 150 full-color paintings by the renowned artist and illustrator, ranging in subject matter from barbarian battles to erotica to religious art. Frank Frazetta’s 50-year career is celebrated not only in these museum-quality reproductions of his art but also in photos from his personal archives, including shots of George Lucas visiting the Frazetta estate and Bo Derek posing for one of his alluring femme fatales. Comments and anecdotes by the artist and the editors, along with testimonials from graphic-art luminaries Dave Stevens, Bruce Timm, and Bernie Wrightson, flesh out this portrait of the artist.

Genres: Art, Fantasy

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2001

About the author

Frank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction artist, noted for work in comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, record-album covers and other media. He was the subject of a 2003 documentary.

* Complete list of his book covers.

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a great book overviewing my favorite all time fantasy artist. Excellent and beautiful reproductions of his work. My highest recommendation

[Kamakana · Rating 3 out of 5]

when i was a kid i really liked frazetta- bought a calendar of his, see my photos- though i never bought a book simply for the cover art. it was also inspiration of too many van-side paintings of that era that were not near as good, but this is illustration rather than art, where quality of representation is most appreciated, and as i grew up my interests became more detached from narrative, more focused on what the artwork said by itself rather than referred to, illustrating, imagining, what another work said....

i also ended up reading other sf that does not lend itself to his style and myself never drew or painted such work. became too intellectual. amazing to realize how much of his work is familiar... it is great to see all his work together. the text is mostly biographical or hagiographic, never critiquing, never placing it in its time, never much exploring its immense presence and any influences... the reproductions are good, the colour plates are large, probably i am more attracted to art rather than illustration, though it would be cool to see a mash-up...

[Matthew Schacht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pictures, interesting essays. Was cool to learn the background of his self-portrait

[Sullivan Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frazetta’s work is unbelievable. In the age of AI slop, his art somehow feels even more powerful. His attempt to “imagine the unimaginable” is as breathtaking as ever.

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

Testament is the third in the trilogy of books on Frank Frazetta, the first two being Legacy: Selected Paintings and Drawings by Frank Frazetta and Icon: A Retrospective by the Grand Master of Fantastic Art Frank Frazetta. The production value for these three books are fantastic as usual with big nicely reproduced prints.

Featured here are the remaining major Frazetta oils as well as many rare and previously unpublished works. Besides fantasy art, there are also pieces on sci-fi, dinosaurs, cowboys and women. So there's a bit more variety here, offering a look at the more obscure illustrations, and a different side to Frank Frazetta's art.

There's plenty of things to read again. Commentary includes essays, one of which is a rare autobiography by Frank Frazetta himself, and notes that look at the inspiration and story behind each piece, like why he repaints some of the covers, how he likes his women drawn, etc.

This book is for those who like fantasy art, figure drawing and Frank Frazetta.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Frazetta was a master, and this volume further justifies that thought. This being the third volume in the series, it has many of the "lesser" pieces and unpublished works, as the two previous volumes catered to his major works, and goes to show just how amazing Frazetta was. Included are a wide range of subjects in a variety of media, all of which display that primal/powerful quality that Frazetta was able to inject into his work. Included are many wonderful renditions of "Frazetta women". Simply an amazing collection of art from a great artist. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork is beautifully reproduced and worth looking at. As for the text, the quotes from Frazetta were the highlights. The commentary from others got repetitive.