Product Description

Offers a look at the life and work of Luis Melendez, one of eighteenth-century Europe's greatest still-life painters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #140041 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780300158809
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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About the Author

Customer Reviews

gorgeous
This book is filled with gorgeous paintings of this master's works. It is coffee table sized. The illustrations are all high quality, and it features x-ray photographs and other such photographs covering the painter's technique. It also discusses the various items he uses in his still lifes. Altogether, if you are interested in the artist, it will be a lovely addition to your book collection.

SUPERLATIVE ART BOOK ON A VIRTUOSO
This is an extraordinarily attractive publication focused on a painter I'd never heard of, before now. Luis Melendez gets short shrift--if any--in several of the major art histories that I've consulted, even though, as a still-life painter, he could easily be seen as superior to any other artist of the genre in history. More importantly, while his typical subject matter--kitchen utensils and common foodstuffs--might be seen as fodder for the Naturalist, in truth, Melendez can be regarded as one of the earliest Romantics; and the authors intimate as much in their discussion of one of my favorites, "Still Life with Melon, Jug, and Bread", when they state: "One of the aims of painting in the academic tradition in Melendez's time was to improve on what nature had made, not merely to imitate it. Although this convention usually referred to figure painting, Melendez evidently took it to heart when creating his still lifes." Evidently, indeed. "He also", the authors continue, "made compositional choices that would showcase his virtuosity, and his high opinion of his own talent is validated by paintings such as 'Still Life with Melon, Jug, and Bread'...." And that "high opinion" is similarly "validated" by most of the other astounding works so beautifully presented in this superlative publication. Kudos to the authors, the publisher, and the National Gallery of Art.

Just beautiful
I can not believe how much I didn't know about great painters like Melendez. Talk about some skills, having being touched by the hands of God, and having so much talent. I have tried to copy some of his items, and i have practice and practice trying to get close enough to his items.But I guess that is all i can do.Perfectionist, realistically amazing.So much talent.Got this book and pray that some of his talent can rub on me. (Hey you never know) ;)