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Secret Lives Of Great Artists: What Your Teachers Never Told You About Master Painters And Sculptors (2008)

by Elizabeth Lunday(Favorite Author)

3.78 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

159474257X (ISBN13: 9781594742576)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Quirk Books

review 1: I got up to Paul Cézanne and then I stopped. I didn’t even reach my favorite artists: Monet, Van Gogh, Hopper, Escher, and Dalí. But I couldn’t make myself continue. After the AP Art History test my head was so full of art that I couldn’t take it anymore.The only reason I got that far was the brilliance of the writing. These “famous” artists’ bios were presented with such knowledgeable wit and sarcasm that almost anyone, even those that failed their art history classes, would find enjoyment in. Fun facts also fill this book like light in a museum, eliminating the artist and making them much more interesting than previously thought. I mean who knew that Caravaggio was a convicted murderer or that Mona Lisa has no eyebrows? Yes, for those longing to impress tho... morese “artsy” hipsters, this book will be your guide.The only real hiccup here is that if you were to ask a random person on the street who the people in this book were, the likelihood that they would be able to recognize at least half of the names would be very slim. Heck, I didn’t even know who Caravaggio was until my art history class. Therefore if you are the average Joe, you can read this book, maybe even enjoy it, but it might be a bit difficult to know what the hell they’re talking about sometimes. In conclusion: some prior art history is required. This is not a crash course in famous artists. It’s just some fun facts that your art history textbook/teacher might not have told you.And in that way it’s hard, or at least it was for me, to read this thing from cover to cover. Artists just blend into one another and facts begin to go in and out of my mind with the blink of an eye. Only a few things here or there stay. Therefore I’m stopping before I get a total art history overload.I would like to pick it up again in the future, maybe select an artist from time to time and laugh at the strangeness of their life. But I know of a better home for it than my bookshelf, gathering dust: with my art teacher. No doubt, she will appreciate it more than I ever could.
review 2: When I first looked at this book I wasn't too sure I would like it. Instead, I find I dip into it at spare moments. Each artists' bio is covered in about 4 pages and there are some little nuggets that are not common knowledge.This is by no means a definitive book about artists, their lives and their works, but it gives just enough to pique your curiosity to look up more. You at least get the work the artist is most known for and who his patrons were. It's a fun book that gives a synopsis of information.You have a fast over view of historically important and well known artists.It's light hearted and good for when you do't want to spend a long time reading tomes of artists' biographies.Update: I started reading this book a month ago and only just finished it. Ienjoyed reading it for what it is; a light heartedlook at the lives of some famous artists. It covers only perhaps the most recognizable names, but it was fun to read. Good for short moments of time as each bio is fairly short but interesting. less

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