Sorolla: The Masterworks

by Blanca Pons-Sorolla

A new survey of the best works by the elusive and spectacular Spanish Impressionist Joaquín Sorolla. Often compared to his contemporary, the American artist John Singer Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla (1863–1923) was a master draftsman and painter of landscapes, formal portraits, and monumental, historically themed canvases. Highly influenced by French Impressionism, the Valencian artist was a master plein-air painter known for his luminous seaside scenes of frolicking youths and for vivid depictions of Spanish rural life and its pleasures and customs.

This beautifully designed and produced volume brings together one hundred of Sorolla’s major paintings, selected by his great-granddaughter Blanca Pons-Sorolla, the foremost authority on the artist. Benefiting from close proximity to the artist and his personal archives, she presents an in-depth essay that explores Sorolla’s life, work, and remarkable international legacy.

With virtually all of the artist’s previous publications now out of print, this much-anticipated volume is an important addition to the literature on this great Spanish master.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely new catalogue of Sorolla's masterful paintings, separated into three periods of his career: Training and Development (1880-1903), Artistic Prosperity (1904-11), and Creative Maturity (1912-20). Written by his great-granddaughter, Blanca Pons-Sorolla, it includes excerpts from his letters to his wife, Clotilde, and interesting glimpses into his relationship with his family as well as his incredible creative drive. I had no idea that his exhibition at the Hispanic Society of America included 356 paintings (I am proud of myself if I complete 30 for a solo exhibition). Nor did I realize that the exhibition, his first in New York City in 1909, was attended by 169,000 people and sold 20,000 catalogs in one month!

The writing is interesting and beautifully illustrated with examples of masterworks in many subjects and genres from each period. I only wish that the exploration of his life and relationships was a bit more in depth, and that all of the works mentioned in the text included plates, even just black and white reproductions. I devoured the book in one morning, and I will definitely be revisiting it over and over to enjoy the lush, full-page reproductions of this exceptional artist's work.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich lieeeeebe die Bilder! Vorbereitungslektüre zum Besuch von Emi in Valencia (daher kommt der gute), sehr informative und kompakte texte!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primer cinco estrellas del año. Primer libro de este estilo leído. Precioso. Debilidad absoluta por Sorolla, por su amor y su devoción a la pintura y a su familia. Qué luz.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife is recently into visual art and that artist was a favorite of her, so I did have a look at that book. Wouldn’t really consider it reading, but anyway… The art was awesome. The way he plays with light and textures is amazing. Aliso the quality of the pictures in the book was really good. An artist I never heard of but I’m glad to have discover it and I would recommend you do so to.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text is full of beautiful illustrations and a nice balance of biographical information and chronological content. It was very interesting to see how much painting Sorolla completed from year to year.

[Mike Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific history of a great painter written by his grand Daughter

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Mluisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buena calidad de imágenes, y me gusta mucho que incluya pedazos de sus cartas a su mujer Clotilde, creo que muestra un lado personal necesario para entender mejor la obra del artista .

[Esopion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautiful book featuring Sorolla's paintings and history!

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Ryan Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across Sorolla's work in Art Firsts and seeing his portrait of his wife Clotilde in a black dress I was so struck and felt immediately that it was my favourite piece of visual art I had ever seen. Because he manages to convey in his capturing of her image and expression, particularly her eyes, that he loves her. Completely. An adoring devotion. As a viewer I am almost granted a sensation of what that feels like to look at someone I love that much. Her waist is obviously disproportionately tiny, but the composition, the black dress, the red chair, the eyes.

And so I bought this book to delve into his best works as chosen by his granddaughter (cute). And it's glorious. He loved life, Spain, his fellow country-men and women, gardens, light, the beach, children playing together, his gorgeous children who he cared for deeply, seeing them into adulthood. Wonderful.

Favourites:


Señora de Sorolla in Black (1906)


My Children, 1904


My Wife and Daughters in the Garden, 1910


Joaquin Sorolla Garcia Seated, 1917


Sea Idyl, 1918


Garden of the Sorolla House, 1920

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about Sorolla's life, his artwork, bibliography of writers about his life, artwork.
Large color reproductions of Sorolla's greatest works of art for me to study.
Though I did have to sift thru all the writings in the book to find the info about the how, way Sorolla did his art work, about his style of art. Reading the books, searching the pages was well worth my time, note - taking as I discovered how Sorolla created, what paint colors he used, his influences, & what made him so great.
Tough to read about how Sorolla overworked himself, sometimes working in his studio when he should have been resting or sleeping at night. I'm guilty of same behavior as it is hard to break the fire of creating a work of art, wanting to work on a canvas now, not waiting until tomorrow.
Studying Sorolla's artwork, & the way he created it, has helped me learn to be a better artist.
Now, off I go into my studio to work on a canvas ready for painting...

[Norman]

Sorolla's art is so vivid it must be seen in colour and this book has it in spades! The prints themselves are enough to enjoy, but with photographs of his family and his art-making this book is such a wonderful overview. But then we have the biography which just cuts through all the fluff of a life and tells the story directly. And that's not all! We then get a chronology of main events! If I were writing a book of an artists' s life this is the standard I would aim for! Beautifully written, wonderfully illustrated.

[Sheree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page after page of large, quality reproductions of Sorolla's most luminous paintings. I keep this book close at hand and frequently page through the beach scenes of Spain's Valencian coast. Sorolla's expert and unique play of light and shadow is mesmerizing.

[Derek Lacoursiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put a painting by Sorolla in your book and you instantly gain an extra star from me. Great narration and great, large colour images. Made several copies of the paintings. Thank you once again, library.