The World of Watteau: 1684-1721

Time-Life Library of Art

by Pierre Schneider

Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721) was a French painter whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in colour and movement (in the tradition of Correggio and Rubens), and revitalized the waning Baroque idiom, which eventually became known as Rococo. He is credited with inventing the genre of fêtes galantes: scenes of bucolic and idyllic charm, suffused with an air of theatricality. Some of his best known subjects were drawn from the world of Italian comedy and ballet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_...

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, Biography

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Hagar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE Watteau. Schneider is great at contextualizing the era and Watteau's milieu. I particularly enjoyed the book because of the writing, not just the art.

[Dan Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with other books in this delightful series, the key is in the title: 'The World of Watteau'. This is not to be confused with a title such as "The Art and Works of Watteau". While we are treated to many black and white as well as color reproductions, even a catalog as small as Antoin Watteau's is not fully presented here. Several other artists of his time are profiled and the general history of the age in France is covered in several essays coving Watteau and others. There is a handful of pictures by other artists to fill out the feel of 'the World'.
Recommended.

[Frankie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good volume of the Time Life artists series. This is my third and I hope to read them all eventually. I can't decide to continue randomly hopping from one to another, or laying them all out chronologically. I think it's easier to maintain interest if I jump back and forth among the artists.

This volume on Watteau was good. There is not a particular lot of information on him, so the writers struggled to consistently link the many artists mentioned back to the titular artist. More time was spent on Boucher, Chardin, etc. In reality the book was about French art in the time of Louis XIV, XV and XVI. I recommend it to anyone studying pre-revolutionary art.

[Aloha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave all of the Time-Life Art series a 5 star because they were my introduction to the world of art. I highly recommend them to children who are very interested in art. I spent many late nights devouring the series. Perfect for young inquiring minds.