The World of Mortimer Menpes

by Julie Robinson

Adelaide-born Mortimer Menpes was an important Australian expatriate artist who worked in Britain in the late 19th and 20th centuries. He is most renowned as a close associate of Whistler from 1880 until 1888, a time when he was influenced by Whistler's Japanese inspired aetheticism and acknowledged Whistler as his master.

This publication is the first to consider Menpes' whole oeuvre and contribution to British art. It presents new scholarship from leading Menpes' scholars from around the world and illustrates key works from public and private collections in Britain, the United States and Australia together for the first time.

(Source: world-of-mortimer-menpes-painter-etcher-raconteur)

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Michael Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fine large-format hardcover art book published in conjunction with the excellent Menpes exhibition held at The Art Gallery of South Australia, 2014. Prior to attending this retrospective in Adelaide, I was unaware of Menpes – the man and his work – but quickly became entranced by his art: purchasing a copy of this volume was an automatic decision which has rewarded me with a great insight into this locally-born artist. His paintings, sketches and prints showcase a varied range of skills and techniques, and many of the book’s essays are expertly researched, providing a depth of detail regarding Menpes’s ongoing travel and desire to learn throughout his life. The book is attractive and quite comprehensive regarding its content, with a neat page layout and good reproduction. Recommended to all art fans, especially those with a love for Japan.