Comprehensive in scope and definitive in nature, this volume includes paintings, pastels, drawings, monotypes, prints, photographs, and sculpture representing every aspect of the career of one of the protean artists of the nineteenth century. Lavishly illustrated. Text is in English, with essays by Jean Sutherland Boggs, Douglas W. Druick, Henri Loyrette, Michael Pantazzi and Gary Tinterow. The exhibition was also held at the National Gallery of Canada and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Jean Sutherland Boggs (6 November 1922 - 22 August 2014) was an art historian, Degas scholar, and director of the National Gallery of Canada, from 1966 to 1976.
A graduate of the University of Toronto & Harvard, she was also the director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1978 to 1982. After leaving Philadelphia, she returned to Canada to head the Canada Museums Construction Corp., which oversaw design and construction of a new National Gallery building and what became the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
This is not a biography as such, but one of the reasons for reading an art book is the pictures.
This work is the product of a major Degas exhibit, with about 400 excellent illustrations (almost all in color), and accompanied by copious background information.
The text, although rather dry, gives a great idea of his achievements and breadth.
It is sectioned off into small segments accompanying each plate, and also accompanying each phase of his career. So I found myself, skimming somewhat, always looking at all the plates, and sometimes giving close scrutiny parts of particular interest to me.
Unparalleled collection of Degas paintings, drawings, lithographs, monotypes, photographs and bronze statuettes. Especially enjoyed his charcoal and pastel drawings and sketches not easily accessible in other monographs!