John Walker the National Gallery of Art Washington Abrams

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 · 83 ratings  · 9 reviews

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Jan 02, 2016 Eleanor rated it liked it

This is a mean-spirited book. I've been reading the commentary, but have given it upwards and now only await at the pictures (which are splendid reproductions). Mr Walker seems to focus on the the precipitous dealings TNG has done to acquire masterpieces, especially regarding the Rubens, only others besides. His critique of the presented works reflects the prejudices of his fourth dimension (or maybe his own, just if so, he was a curt-sighted individual), and in that location is no allowance for context or a nod to the developm This is a mean-spirited volume. I've been reading the commentary, just have given it upwardly and at present just look at the pictures (which are excellent reproductions). Mr Walker seems to focus on the the precipitous dealings TNG has done to acquire masterpieces, peculiarly regarding the Rubens, just others too. His critique of the presented works reflects the prejudices of his time (or perchance his ain, but if so, he was a short-sighted individual), and there is no allowance for context or a nod to the development of fine art across the eras, much less a recognition of the influences felt by artists from different global regions. In short, Mr Walker is an art snob and rather deadening to read due to this superior attitude.
At that place is no comparing betwixt this and Gombrich'south The Story of Art, an outstanding, educational overview of art.
It is a user-friendly mode to view TNG collection, so I gave information technology 3 stars. ...more

Sep 22, 2007 Anica rated it it was amazing

Recommends information technology for: artists with big biceps (it'southward huge!)

I bought this at an estate sale for $20 (which is a-fucking-lot at what is basically a yard auction.) Juneau and I expect at this almost every nighttime at bedtime. It makes me feel like I'1000 doing something right for her. I bought this at an estate sale for $20 (which is a-fucking-lot at what is basically a yard auction.) Juneau and I look at this almost every night at bedtime. Information technology makes me experience like I'k doing something right for her. ...more

Oct 25, 2021 Ostap Bough rated it it was astonishing

Happiness is finding a great deal at a library book auction. I was quite pleased to pay $5 for this giant book of fine art from the National Gallery in Washington DC. It features i,120 illustrations, almost all of them colour, and many of them at the full page size of nine.5 10 11.five inches. And what a collection it is, featuring paintings from the early Italian and Northern masters to those of the 20th century, also every bit sculptures and drawings. It was interesting to read near the shrewd style the collection Happiness is finding a not bad deal at a library volume sale. I was quite pleased to pay $5 for this giant book of fine art from the National Gallery in Washington DC. It features one,120 illustrations, nearly all of them color, and many of them at the full page size of 9.5 x xi.5 inches. And what a collection information technology is, featuring paintings from the early on Italian and Northern masters to those of the 20th century, as well as sculptures and drawings. It was interesting to read nearly the shrewd way the collection was acquired, and the commentary on the pieces, while a scrap uneven and 'one-time schoolhouse' (calling to mind some of the points Berger made in 'Means of Seeing'), sometimes revealed some interesting facts.

It's very hard to pick favorites, but hither are 25 paintings and a handful of sculptures and drawings which were at the top for me (every bit at that place were 40+ other works that were under consideration, so at least parts of this list could easily change in another frame of listen). Upon looking up a few of these on the museum's website to etch a 'virtual tour', I detect some of the titles take changed slightly since 1974, when this edition was first published. It's also likewise bad more of these weren't on the National Gallery's 'Intimate Impressionism' tour, which reached San Francisco in 2014.

1. Leonardo da Vinci - Ginevra de' Benci 1480
2. Raphael - Bindo Altoviti 1515
iii. Titian - Venus with a Mirror 1555
4. Gentileschi - The Lute Player 1612/20
5. Murillo - A Girl and Her Duenna 1655/sixty
half-dozen. Hals - Balthasar Coymans 1645
vii. Rembrandt - The Mill 1645-48
8. El Greco - Laocoon 1610
nine. Boucher - Venus Consoling Dearest 1751
10. de Goya - Dona Teresa Sureda 1805
eleven. Raeburn - Miss Eleanor Urquhart 1793
12. Turner - Mortlake Terrace 1826
13. Manet - Flowers in a Crystal Vase 1882
fourteen. Renoir - Odalisque 1870
15. Degas - 4 Dancers 1899
xvi. Cezanne - Firm of Pere Lacroix 1873
17. van Gogh - Farmhouse in Provence, Arles 1888
18. Redon - Evocation of Roussel 1912
xix. Rousseau - Rendezvous in the Forest 1889
20. Fantin-Latour - Mademoiselle de Fitz-James 1867
21. Homer - Breezing Up 1876
22. Cassatt - The Boating Political party 1893-94
23. Modigliani - Chaim Soutine 1917
24. Feininger - Zirchow VII 1918
25. Hartley - Mount Kitadhin 1942

ane. Rodin - The Evil Spirits 1899
2. Tassaert - Painting and Sculpture 1775-78
3. Lehmbruck - Seated Youth (The Friend) 1917
four. Bernini - Self-Portrait 1614-15
v. Picasso - Cocky-Portrait 1902

...more than

Mar 05, 2019 Robert Costic rated it actually liked it

Looked through John Walker's gigantic book on the National Gallery of Art'south collection. Overall it's a groovy exposition of the museum'southward collection, but I was scandalized by the sexism of the blurb given for Mary Cassatt. After all, he didn't ask if art's sacrifice was worthwhile for Degas, who also went bullheaded, or for Gauguin, who actually abandoned his family to pigment.

Rating: I rated the volume, not the art.

A lot of Biblical subjects and portraits. Mostly European artists, which kind of makes me wonder why it's called the National Gallery. Some of the pieces go back to the 14th century, and we see how art was different in previous eras: paintings on woods, paintings over other paintings, uncertainty of the artist'south identity, etc.

Some of the analysis is a bit snooty. I don't hold with the belief that form / technical achievement is earth-shaking. A bit too much

Rating: I rated the volume, non the art.

A lot of Biblical subjects and portraits. Mostly European artists, which kind of makes me wonder why it's called the National Gallery. Some of the pieces get back to the 14th century, and we come across how art was dissimilar in previous eras: paintings on wood, paintings over other paintings, uncertainty of the creative person'due south identity, etc.

Some of the analysis is a bit snooty. I don't agree with the belief that form / technical accomplishment is all-important. A bit too much attention is paid to the buying histories of the paintings. But there'southward some interesting fine art trivia. There are 122 paintings shown, the majority of which are full-folio size, and they're not small pages. Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin, van Gogh, Goya, El Greco, da Vinci, Matisse, Rembrandt, Renoir, Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Vermeer are all represented here. It's a expert read for people who don't alive in the D.C. surface area. Every bit for the museum, if yous like portraits and older art, you lot should like it. If not, I'd avoid.

My favorites:
"The Small Crucifixion" - Mathis Grunewald
"A Young Daughter Reading" - Jean-Honore Fragonard
"Arabs Skirmishing in the Mountains" - Eugene Delacroix
"A Corner of the Moulin de la Galette" - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
"Chaim Soutine" - Amedeo Modigliani
"Family of the Saltimbanques" - Pablo Picasso

...more than

Jun 08, 2015 R.J. Mirabal rated it actually liked it

First-class volume with beautiful reproductions of Western Civilization'southward great works of art. It focuses primarily on paintings, particularly oil paintings which is a major part of the National Gallery's collection. The commentary was very helpful although a little technical for those not familiar with artists' jargon. Some of the opinions of the author are a little hard to reconcile with what one sees, but I gauge it's a skilful case of "beauty in the eyes of the beholder." Still an fantabulous art educ Excellent book with beautiful reproductions of Western Civilisation'southward great works of art. It focuses primarily on paintings, particularly oil paintings which is a major function of the National Gallery's collection. The commentary was very helpful although a piddling technical for those not familiar with artists' jargon. Some of the opinions of the writer are a piffling hard to reconcile with what ane sees, just I gauge information technology's a good case of "beauty in the optics of the beholder." Still an excellent art education and has inspired me to larn more about fine art. The book was revised in 1984, so it'south non up to date on more than contempo acquisitions. Definitely a "keeper" in my library! ...more

Sep 19, 2016 E rated it information technology was amazing

Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to East by: Myself

Past John Walker, Director of the National Gallery of Art - 1963

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

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