Debra,
You wrote:
>And for enjoyment and inspiration, some art books are in the pile too.
>Currently the most thumbed ones are of frescoes by Fra Angelico and
>paintings
>and drawings by Gustav Klimt. There's something about the elegance and
>stillness of the figures and all that gold leaf used by both artists that
>appeals to me these days, although boldly colorful Matisse is never far
>away.
I'm curious. Do you look at these books "simply" for the joy of the art?
Or do you also read the text? Are they books of the collections,
biographies, or criticisms? I read a lot of art books (lately more
biographical) and always wonder if, when other people do, whether they are
in the field or not.
Fra Angelico has long been a favorite; he reminds me of Raphael and
Botecelli as well. (I think my spelling is off there, but I'm too tired to
care much.) For sheer moxie, I love Fra Fillipo, too. I like more of
Matisse's later works, when his eyes and hands were failing him and he made
all those wonderful arabesques of color and form. Do you enjoy Albrecht
Durer? I think he has that same clarity of form that catches our breath in
Angelico and Raphael.
I have a hard time thinking of Klimt without thinking of Shakespeare, for
some reason. There's a feeling of tragic love and honor lurking in his
work.
Who else do you like? Anyone more contemporary?
Diane
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