Synopses & Reviews
James Fenton, one of England's most gifted poets, has in recent years been looking closely at works of art and writing incisively and inventively about them and their creators. This collection of fifteen writings discusses a wide range of painting and sculpture, from the mummy portraits of ancient Egypt to the works of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.
"Ingenious. . . . Intrigued by emerging and unstable reputations, [Fenton] introduces us to Leonardo da Vinci's half-brother's son Pierino: a precocious sculptor celebrated by Vasari but virtually forgotten since."—Publishers Weekly
"Not surprisingly, Fenton displays throughout the passionate attentiveness of a scholar, the enthusiasm of an amateur, and the urbane cleverness of an English journalist."—Washington Post Book World
"[Fenton] is not, like Baudelaire, a poet moonlighting as art critic; he is something else again—a poetic art historian." —Karen Wright, Observer
"These essays educate, enlighten, surprise and thrill, unfailingly."—Robin Lippincott, New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
James Fenton, one of England's most gifted poets, has in recent years been looking closely at works of art and writing incisively and inventively about them and their creators. This collection of fifteen writings discusses a wide range of painting and sculpture, from the mummy portraits of ancient Egypt to the works of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.
Synopsis
James Fenton, one of England's most gifted poets, has in recent years been looking closely at works of art and writing incisively and inventively about them and their creators. This collection of fifteen writings discusses a wide range of painting and sculpture, from the mummy portraits of ancient Egypt to the works of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.Ingenious. . . . Intrigued by emerging and unstable reputations, Fenton introduces us to Leonardo da Vinci's half-brother's son Pierino: a precocious sculptor celebrated by Vasari but virtually forgotten since.--Publishers WeeklyNot surprisingly, Fenton displays throughout the passionate attentiveness of a scholar, the enthusiasm of an amateur, and the urbane cleverness of an English journalist.--Washington Post Book World Fenton is not, like Baudelaire, a poet moonlighting as art critic; he is something else again--a poetic art historian. --Karen Wright, ObserverThese essays educate, enlighten, surprise and thrill, unfailingly.--Robin Lippincott, New York Times Book Review
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 247-[267]) and index.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction and Acknowledgments
On Statues
The Mummy's Secret
Pisanello: The Best of Both Worlds
Verrocchio: The New Cicerone
Leonardo's Nephew
Bernini at Harvard/Chicago Baroque
Who Was Thomas Jones?
Degas in the Evening
Degas in Chicago
Seurat and the Sewers
The Secrets of Maillol
Becoming Picasso
Joseph Cornell: "Monuments to Every Moment"
Rauschenberg: The Voracious Ego
Johns: A Banner with a Strange Device
Notes
Index