Great Artists: The Lives of 50 Painters Explored Through Their Work

by Robert Cumming

A chronological compendium of fifty great artists and their most important works spans six centuries of world art and encompasses biographical profiles and information on style, movements, influences, trademarks, and identifiable techniques for artists including Michaelangelo, Boticelli, Matisse, and others.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, History, Biography

112 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 1998

About the author

Having swapped a promising career in law for the art world, Robert Cumming first worked as a lecturer at the Tate Gallery. He then set up The Christie’s Fine Arts Course which developed into Christie’s Education with centres and partnerships worldwide. In 2005, Robert was appointed Professor of Art History at Boston University, Massachusetts. He has published many books devoted to the delights to be found in looking at works of art which have been translated into over 24 languages, sold over one million copies, and been awarded prestigious literary prizes. The Slow Looking series is the culmination of Robert’s work and life within the art world.

Reviews

[Erin Breece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this made me feel like I was a little kid in the library again. I used to read the DK books all the time. Unfortunately I feel like the book focused on trivial facts about the artists and I didn’t really learn much. I did discover some new artists I hadn’t heard of before so I enjoyed researching them on my own.

[☆ania☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

bardzo przyjemna książka!! poznałam wielu nowych artystów i ich spojrzenie na sztukę i świat, so cool! bardzo mi się podobało to jak były nawiazania do tego kto kim się inspirował i kto był dla kogo wzorem<3

dobrze było przeczytać coś więcej o ich życiu i ICH celu tworzenia a nie o tym jak ich widziano

ALSO doceniam za cytaty od samych artystów :>

🎨°.🌿♡🏚▪︎.

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Squeezes in a lot of information in one double truck per artist. (some eeensy weensy print in spots) One or two works of each are highlighted with detailed notes, which offered some interesting tidbits. Would be very good for anyone new to the subject.

[Analuabc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Percorrendo várias décadas e vários estilos ficamos com 1 ideia dos principais pintores e suas obras mais conhecidas. Leitura facilitada por n ser texto seguido mas sim pequenos apontamentos sobre a obra, vida ou técnica.

[Marzia_Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Every art lover will be pleased by the way in which both artists and their works have been explained.
Good for both adult and junior readers.

[Matan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all very well done. As an introduction, it's wonderful even. Curation could have been better (or at least explained), and there are always those left outside so no point in kvetching about it.

[Maksym Karpovets · Rating 4 out of 5]

оригінальний підхід із детальним коментуванням до обраних картин не може не підкупити. принцип коментування нагадує блукання між деталями, символами, датами (у цьому сенсі варто почитати Даніеля Арасса "Живопис в деталях"). звісно, вибірка робіт може вселяти сумнів (як, наприклад, із роботою Клода Моне), але не потрібно забувати, що йдеться про авторську роботу. мені особисто імпонує ось ця велика траєкторія європейського живопису від братів Лімбург до Джексона Поллока, що вказує про невід*ємність розуміння сучасного мистецтва від традиції і навпаки. це практично повністю руйнує як загальні стереотипи про самобутність кожної епохи чи митця, що існують повсякчас на дистанції один від одного. так само це пориває стереотип про так звану "низьку духовність" сучасного мистецтва, про яке, між словами, автор доволі стримано відгукується. мовляв, ще рано якось оцінювати сучасне мистецтво, оскільки воно не перевірене часом. але якщо так, тоді й Вазарі та інші "літописці живописців" втрачають свою актуальність. так чи інакше, книжка цікава буде як широкій аудиторії, так і тим, хто серйозно цікавиться мистецтвом, адже щоразу якийсь штрих додає глибини та повноти власному розумінню.

[That70sheidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think they might be able to squeeze some 2pt fonts in there if they tried really hard.

There seems to be a ton of text on each page, but I felt there was a little too much incidental data and not enough focus on the artwork itself. There's quite a bit of historical and background information, but I'm more interested in technique or what the artist themselves might have written about their own work rather than what was going on in Hungary during the same time.

Also the layout was a little bit frenetic and visually displeasing, since font sizes changed quite a bit and mini-paragraphs were scattered over a two-page spread. I felt like if I wasn't very careful I'd miss one or two of the blurbs.

There was a good coverage of artists and not all the focus was on the "popular" or commonly known classicists.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very useful survey of some of the Great Artists. Some biographical details and a description of the unique elements of their style and an analysis of about one painting each. For me, this is a great idea, but I'd like something more in-depth in all aspects, biography, analysis and survey of the output of the artist. I don't know where to find something like this, but it is a beautiful thing to investigate, and a lovely way to spend some time, just looking at and appreciating the pinnacle of artistic achievement.

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of many "great" artists. There are 49, according to the writer(s). Only one work is picked out to discuss, though others are mentioned, and this is not the main work of the artist, which I found interesting. There are little blurbs here and there about each artist, where the painting is hung, the size, etc., and various dates in his / her life. Like I said, a good overview.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview for the novice about to embarq on a museum adventure, it introduces big names, their styles and techniques, each on a two-page spread with a typical or familiar sample of work. Spans Masaccio (1401-1428) to Jackson Pollock (1912-1956.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting art book about a selection of great artists and their work. Good to see a few female artists get a mention.
I loved reading this book