Vincent Van Gogh: Masterworks by Rosalind Ormiston was published by Flame Tree Publishing in 2013.
In order to avoid confusion, I must tell you that this book was previously published with a different title:
Vincent Van Gogh: A Life in Letters and Art
The author, Rosalind Ormiston, is a historian who specializes in art and architecture. She is the author of several books about famous artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and J. M. W. Turner.
If you want more information about the author, you can visit her website.
PART ONE
Vincent Van Gogh: Masterworks is a beautiful book. It is a hardcover volume published in a large format (29 x 30 cm). It is a blend of two elements: the letters and the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh.
The first element is a brief biography of the famous artist, based on his letters to his brother Theo and a few other people who were close to him.
The second element is a collection of his masterworks. Most of his famous works can be found here. All illustrations are in colour and the quality is high.
Since the book is published in a large format, many of his works are presented in a large format.
Most illustrations are paintings or drawings by Vincent Van Gogh, but not all. A small number of illustrations are paintings by other artists who are mentioned in his letters because they were important to him.
The book begins with a brief introduction which presents the artist, his family, and the people around him. The main text is divided into five chapters which cover the last twenty years of Vincent’s life:
# 1. 1872-1880
# 2. 1881-1883
# 3. 1884-1886
# 4. 1887-1888
# 5. 1889-1890
At the end of the book there is a brief bibliography. There is also an index.
PART TWO
Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853. His life was short and often troubled. He committed suicide in 1890. But during his short and troubled life he managed to create numerous paintings and drawings of an extraordinary quality.
When we read his letters to his brother Theo and to other people, we get close to him. We learn about the problems in his life, but also about his hopes and his dreams.
In one letter (quoted on pp. 82 and 84), he predicts that he has only six to ten years left of his life. The letter was written in August 1883. Sadly, his prediction was quite accurate. At the end of this letter, he says:
“Something must be accomplished in those few years, this thought guides all my plans.”
And he did accomplish something. His numerous paintings and drawings are a wonderful legacy to the world. And some of his best works are collected in this book by Rosalind Ormiston.
Regarding the layout, I can see that author and book-editor tried to make text and illustration connect closely with each other. When one page presents a letter where Vincent mentions a particular painting, we will often have this particular painting on the opposite page.
However, they were not always able to make this happen. Sometimes one page presents a letter where Vincent mentions a certain painting, but the illustration on the opposite page is a different painting.
While author and book-editor have been very careful with the details of the book, there are a few minor flaws.
I will mention them here in order to show how careful I was when I was reading the book:
** There a misprint on page 92 where Vincent’s letter reads: “make light if the practical value…”
The third word should be “of” and not “if.”
** Dr Félix Rey, who treated Vincent for a while, is mentioned several times.
His last name is misspelled on page 148 – “Ray” - but the spelling is correct on pp. 144 and 149.
** On page 156 Vincent’s letter reads:
“When I sent you the four canvases of the garden I am working on, you will see that…”
The third word should be “send” (the present tense), not “sent” (the past tense). Why? Because he is talking about the future, and not about the past.
** On pp. 158-159, we have a letter written by Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, his sister-in-law, who is known as Jo. According to the headline on page 158, this letter was written in Saint-Rémy on 5 July 1889.
While the date is correct, the location is not. Jo and Theo were living in Paris, so the location should be Paris.
Vincent was in Saint-Rémy, and she was writing to him, but this is irrelevant, because the headline always says where the writer is, not where the letter is going.
CONCLUSION
Vincent Van Gogh: Masterworks is a wonderful volume, which offers a brief biography of the famous artist (in less than 200 pages) as well as a fine selection of his best works.
While there are some minor flaws here and there, I will not let them disturb my overall impression of the book.
If you are interested in the history of European art, this book is definitely something for you.
It is highly recommended.
PS # 1. Van Gogh: Painted with Words is a drama-documentary which was shown on British television (BBC) in 2010 and released on DVD in 2015.
PS # 2. Van Gogh: The Life by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith (2011) (2013) is a long and detailed biography (more than 900 pages).
PS # 3. Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings by Rainer Metzger (author) and Ingo F. Walther (editor) was published in 2012. The format is 21 x 28 cm.
A smaller version of this book was published in 2015. The format is reduced to 14 x 20 cm.
PS # 4. The following items cover the final years of the artist:
** Van Gogh in Arles by Roland Pickvance (1984)
** Van Gogh in Saint-Rémy and Auvers by Roland Pickvance (1986)
Both volumes are exhibition catalogues published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
PS # 5. The Kröller-Müller Museum is located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo in the Netherlands.
Some of Vincent’s paintings and drawings are on display here. I was there a few years ago (2000). A visit to this place is highly recommended.
*****
Vincent Van Gogh: Masterworks
by Rosalind Ormiston
Flame Tree Publishing
2013
192 pages
*****
Vincent Van Gogh
(1853-1890)
A self portrait painted in 1887
*****
No comments:
Post a Comment