Book Ideas

[Patricia Joyce]

Does anyone have a good book they can suggest? I'm looking for a biography or autobiography book about portrait artists? Something with good insight about devoting ones life to portraiture.

Thanks

[Terri Ficenec]

You might try one of the books on Artemisia Gentileschi... There's a few of them 'Artemisia; a novel' is rated four stars on Amazon.com. I read 'The Passion of Artemisia' a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, but see that it's only rated 3.5 there.

Here's a link to a site that has a 'tour' of her paintings:
http://www.artemisia-gentileschi.com/index.shtml

[Cynthia Daniel]

My bookstore has books on her:
http://portraitartist.com/bookstore/artemisia.htm

If you are particularly interested in women artists, there is a selection here: http://portraitartist.com/bookstore/history-women.htm

And a section on

[Patricia Joyce]

Thank you Terri and Cynthia, I'll check it out.

[Terri Ficenec]

You might try one of the books on Artemisia Gentileschi... There's a few of them 'Artemisia; a novel' is rated four stars on Amazon.com. I read 'The Passion of Artemisia' a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, but see that it's only rated 3.5 there.

*** Sorry for the double post! I was looking for a page I'd visited previously by backing through the history on my browser & just learned that that can cause something older to repost. Who knew?!?

[Marvin Mattelson]

I'll second Vigee Le Brun and also check out Cecelia Beaux.

[Laurel Alanna McBrine]

I am enjoying The Society Portrait: From David to Warhol. The book talks about what fees were charged and other interesting subjects relating to portrait painting that I haven't read about before. The cover shows the Duchess of Marlborough and her son by Boldini. Inside is Sargent's painting of that family, as well as the story of her marriage and a photograph of the event. Not all the examples are admirable, but it is interesting to see the historical overview of this genre.