Paintings in the Musee d'Orsay

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Great book...but it could have been better

Paintings in the Musee d'Orsay
Serge Lemoine
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 081095608X

Book Description

Situated in the heart of Paris, the Musée d'Orsay boasts the greatest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world, unparalleled in its diversity and quality. Since its opening in 1986 in a spectacularly renovated train station, the museum has welcomed more than 50 million visitors to its collection of works by Bouguereau, Courbet, Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Redon, Whistler, Gauguin, and other artists of the mid-19th century to the early 20th century.

In this deluxe, oversize volume, the museum's director, Serge Lemoine, and his team of curators and specialists examine this extraordinary collection, ranging from the primacy of Academic painting through the shock of Impressionism to the rise of modern art. With 830 full-color illustrations of masterpieces by some of the world's best-loved artists-from Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles to Cézanne's Apples and Oranges-this is the definitive guide to paintings in one of the world's most popular museums. The exhaustive scope of this book and the richness of its imagery make Paintings in the Musée d'Orsay an essential addition to the bookshelves of all lovers of Impressionism and of great art. AUTHOR BIO: Serge Lemoine is director of the Musée d'Orsay and a professor at the Sorbonne. He has published numerous books, articles, and essays, particularly on abstract, Constructivist, and Dadaist art. He has also organized many exhibitions in France and elsewhere.

Customer Reviews:

Great book...but it could have been better.......2005-01-11

The concept of this book is very good: minimum text - maximum pictures. All art monographs should follow the same principle.
The book is split into the chapters dealing with dominant artistic trends of the time, and subchapters dedicated to the most important artists within each trend/movement.
The brief introductory essays are well written and help understand background behind the movements or artistic groups whose most representative works are displayed on the subsequent pages.

If one hasn't seen d'Orsay's magnificent collection in person, they'll be amazed by this lavishly illustrated monograph.
In most cases there is one plate per page, sometimes two and very seldom three. However, what I don't understand is 2 inches wide margin around the reproductions (???) Why? Why they were not printed at least an inch larger at all sides?

Besides, though even the best repros can't do justice to the original, many pictures could have been much better. Don't get me wrong - majority of reproductions is of good quality, but there are those (I'd say one third of the total number) which are considerably lighter than the originals and/or have rather compressed values - Manet's Olympia being the most obvious example. (I've visited d'Orsay two months ago and the paintings are still vivid in my memory).

However, these remarks shouldn't stop you from purchasing the book, since monsieur Lemoine in this monograph included works of many great but usually neglected artists, those which one can very rarely (or never) see in the books on art of the 19th century. There are enough books on Impressionists to fill all the world's garbage landfills many times over (and thousands upon thousands more are printed every year), yet it is so hard to find one monograph on the likes of Cabanel, Delaunay, Fromentin, Bonnat, Laurens, Carriere, Levy-Dhurmer, Hammershoi etc etc.

Average customer rating:

Excellent
A DANDY COFFEE TABLE BOOK....(the HARDBACK, not the Tiny Folio series)
Just a collection of prints
Treasures of the Musée DýOrsay
An excellent companion or inspiration (if you haven't been)

Treasures of the Musee D'Orsay

Manufacturer: Artabras Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0896600548

Amazon.com

The Musee D'Orsay in Paris, formerly a grand train station, houses one of the world's finest collections of 19th-century art. Opened as a museum in 1986, its constant flow of traffic is a testament to a worldwide love affair with impressionist art. While the museum contains an extensive collection of drawings, sculpture, decorative arts, architecture, and photography from 1848-1914, its true pride is its collection of paintings. Flip through pages of work by some of history's most celebrated artists: Ingres, Delacroix, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Monet, Cézanne, Rodin, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lautrec. While the bulk of the 240 color illustrations are devoted to paintings, a fine selection of the museum's entire collection is reproduced here.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-08-01

We just returned from Musee D'Orsay. The book was very expensive at the museum and would have cost more to ship. The price was great. The book is new, large colorful pictures highlighting the best of one of my favorite museums in Paris!

A DANDY COFFEE TABLE BOOK....(the HARDBACK, not the Tiny Folio series).......2006-04-19

This fantastic book is about the eminent museum in Paris that is situated on the left bank of the famous Seine. It holds mainly French art from 1848 to 1914. It has one of the leading collections of Impressionist art in the world. This book is to be read and savored by people who love France, awesome works of art, impressionism or who love the splendid D'Orsay museum. Everytime I read it, I have happy memories.

I had the most marvelous good fortune to spend a day at the Musee D'Orsay in Paris several months ago. It is such a magnificent place with wonderful sculptures and works of art. And naturally, me being me, I took hundreds of photos. And again, me being me, I needed to identify all the pictures when I got home which was difficult because, coupled with pictures from the Lourve and the British Museum, I had to identify well over 750 snapshots. That's when the Treasures of the Musee D'Orsay came in handy. Besides being a dandy coffee table book, it is chock full of photos from the museum's lovely pieces of art.

We learn that the ground floor corresponds to the Second Empire in France with sculptures ranging from 1848 to 1870's. We also learn about and can view the masterpieces of the 1870's...Manet, Degas, Renoir, Monet and Cezanne all have displays. The museum's other popular areas hold work by: Vincent van Gogh, Gaugin, Seurat, and Toulouse-Lautrec. We also see Rodin, Munch, Mollard, and even "The Artist's Mother" (Arrangement in Grey and Black) by Whistler as shown in this book along with scores of other paintings. Now, if I will only take time to work on my slide show now that I have names to go with these works of art!

Just a collection of prints.......2004-07-11

This book is ok if you want a collection of prints of about 240 art objects. It is useless otherwise, specially if you are a beginner, because there is no commentary with any of the prints.

Each section begins with a short commentary - and that's all. For example, one section for Manet, Degas, Whistler, Latour, Monet, Morisot, Pissaro, Renoir, Sisley, Cezanne, etc has just a single page of commentary for 43 paintings!!

Treasures of the Musée DýOrsay.......2003-10-31

For many of us a trip to one of the greatest museums in the world, Musée D'Orsay in Paris, can prove to be mindboggling. We are not only overwhelmed with the magnificent art that is on display but we never seem to have enough time or energy to view a fraction of these great artistic contributions to mankind.

Treasures of the Musée D'Orsay, authored by former director of the Musée Françoise Cachin, is one solution to resolve our dilemma in planning a meaningful visit to this great institution.

The author in her introduction introduces us to the most important artworks of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist eras.
While we take this journey, we are also made aware of the fact that the museum was a train station and a hotel that were classified as historical monuments in Paris, and as a result were spared demolition.

The museum houses the works of artists born between 1820 and 1870, with some exceptions. It is also explained to us that the Musée d'Orsay, insofar as its paintings are concerned, is to be placed between the Louvre, which houses artworks before 1820, and the Beaubourg Museum, which prides itself with works, executed after 1870.

What is interesting about the book is that the author gives us a detailed tour of the museum and this is what will make an ultimate tour to this great institution invaluable.

Cachin leads us by the hand from one section of the museum to another where we discover realism on the first floor; the Ingrism and Romanticism as well as social scenes by Daumier and highlights of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Cezanne in the upper gallery; awesome statute surrounded by a steel architecture in the middle floor; and Winslow Homer and other foreign artists in the esplanade.

Another vital aspect about this beautiful book is that the co-author, Xavier Carrère, presents background information and concise essays pertaining to each and every one of the periods.

It is also breathtaking to view the many photographs of just about every aspect of the museum's collection-oil paintings; sculpture, decorative arts, pastels, drawings and watercolors, architecture and photography that are all well represented in the book.
What is also noteworthy is that the volume contains several works that may not even be on display when you personally visit the Musée as they are constantly being rotated in order to preserve them.

Francoise Cachin and Xavier Carrère have reached their goal of preserving vivid memoirs of the quality and variety of works seen at the Musee d'Orsay.
They have also provided the reader with an extensive index that will facilitate the viewing of a work of art within the book as well as in person at the Musée.
If you want to save steps and enjoy the Musée, read this book before visiting.

This review first appeared on reviewer's own site
www.bookpleasures.com

An excellent companion or inspiration (if you haven't been).......2001-06-24

as with most guides, the best give you an understanding of context as well as information on what you're seeing. after a recent visit to the museum, with my head full of memories of the arresting paintings i'd just seen, i picked up this book as a memento. while it doesn't fully take me back (after all, what guide can transport you to the roof, overlooking the seine river and the louvre?), it does help you recall the wonderful memories of days spent wandering the halls.

the book doesn't catalouge the entire museum and some of my favorites weren't in there, but it does have an incredible selection of art. additionally, the commentary is well written and accessable. most importantly, they've thoughtfully put in several sidebars that help you understand the art scene in paris at the time - making the paintings much more relevant.

Customer Reviews:

Our favorite.......2007-06-04

Context: I'm not an academic or a scholar; I'm a regular guy who likes visiting museums when I travel and I wanted to do a little researach before I left. This book worked well for my daughter and I to determine which parts of the museum deserved the most time (on a short trip) and to get a better understanding of the works. I'm not qualified to evaluate it from an academic perspective, but as a layman it was exactly what we needed. I bought several museum books all at the same time and this was the best.

Paintings In the Musee Dorsay.......2005-10-17

Just like a visit to the museum! Packed with high quality reproductions throughout even by 2005 standards. Special semi gloss clay faced paper was used, which improves fine details and also resists age. Just wonderful!

Wonderful!!!.......2001-02-15

I was fortunate to be able to visit the Musee D'Orsay on my last trip to Paris. This book was filled with lovely photos of what the museum displays. It was a wonderful trip down memory lane of one of my favorite experiences.

Maurice Denis: Photography at the Musee d'Orsay (Small Format S.)

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Maurice Denis: Photography at the Musee d'Orsay (Small Format S.)
Fran oise Heilbrun
Manufacturer: 5 Continents Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

New addition to this series, it presents a selection of 60 photographs by the French Nabi painter, Maurice Denis.

Selected Works: The Musee d'Orsay (Key Art Works)

Average customer rating:

Excellent book with historical perspective and insight

Selected Works: The Musee d'Orsay (Key Art Works)
Vanina Costa
Manufacturer: Editions Scala France
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Thousand Splendid Suns

ASIN: 2866561236

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book with historical perspective and insight.......1999-04-19

Vanina Costa's book on the Musee D'Orsay is the kind of book that makes you interested in something that you were only vaguely acquainted with before you read it. 12 paintings by twelve 19th century painters featured at the Musee D'Orsay are analyzed for their style and content, with a sort of expert detail that you would not expect to see in a guidebook to a museum. The one regret I have is that Renoir was not included in this survey, but we get to learn about Seurat, Courbet and Vuillard as well as Monet, Manet, Van Gogh , Degas, Cezanne and Gaughin. A really good read that should be made widely available to patrons of art museums across North America , Europe and Japan and elsewhere in Asia.

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Musee D'Orsay (Art & Architecture)
Peter J. Gartner
Manufacturer: Konemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3829026714

Musee d'Orsay Impressionism and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces

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Musee d'Orsay Impressionism and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Thames and Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 271183025X

Product Description

93 Color plates and commentaries of paintings in the Musee d'Orsay

Average customer rating:

A gorgeous presentation
The Musee D'Orsay

Musee D'Orsay
Alexandra Bonfante-Warren
Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Impressionism | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Masterpieces of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series)

ASIN: 088363502X
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Customer Reviews:

A gorgeous presentation.......2001-01-16

This fine display reveals the works displayed in the Musee d'Orsay, housed in an old railway station and saved from destruction in 1970. These works from 1848-1914 gather painting styles from a variety of French museums and include not only the museum's masterpieces, but text which traces the evolution and influences of these works. Works in jewelry, glassware, photography and architecture round out the display in this gorgeous presentation.

The Musee D'Orsay.......2000-12-30

Upon first gaze , this comprehensive new book of the collections in the Musee D'Orsay - by Alexandra Bonfante-Warren, looks like a must have for any art lover. It is a big, juicy book with hundreds of full-color photographs. The cover is arresting - that beautiful familiar view of one of the world's best user friendly museums. Unfortunately, this is a classic case of "don't judge a book by its cover." All the plates are totally off-color, many too dark to see any detail. All the white highlights are missing from the reproductions. The person responsible for checking the print quality of the reproductions did not do an accurate job. We were quite shocked - considering the price of this book , for us, as Canadians. ($116) What good is an art book if the colors are off - especially for this period in art which was all about color and light? If you want to purchase a good book of the Musee D'Orsay Collections I would recommend instead the book "Treasures of the Musee D'Orsay" by Francoise Cachin. Although less comprehensive in content, it presents a more accurate depiction of the works, and is a far more inspiring book visually.

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Pre-Raphaelite Splendor
Here's a sumptuous feast of color and fantasy
What a great Book!!
A magnificent book for a magnificent exhibition

Burne-Jones, Victorian Artist-Dreamer
Stephen Wildman , Edward Coley Burne-Jones , John Christian , Alan Crawford , Laurence Des Cars , and N.Y.) Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York
Manufacturer: Metropolitan Museum of Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Pre-Raphaelite | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0870998595

Customer Reviews:

Pre-Raphaelite Splendor.......2000-07-18

As I only had about 30 minutes to view this exhibit at the Met (I know - it's absurd), I am delighted to have this beautiful catalog to examine in close detail. The reproductions are indeed stunning, and the text, although very detailed, is quite readable. A treasure for art lovers, especially fans of the Pre-Raphaelite style.

Here's a sumptuous feast of color and fantasy.......1998-11-26

This is a real eye opener of a book if you are looking for an in depth retrospective of the artist's body of work! Burne-Jones is at last receiving his fair due of recognition as witnessed by the recent Met show in the Summer of 1998. This book showcases his many merits, including a unerring color and design technique applied to fantastical subjects. What makes the book so irresistible is the wealth of color plates accompanied by detailed explanations. It also helps that the authors were thoughtful enough to leave out any stuffy, academic narrative that overburdens this genre.

What a great Book!!.......1998-09-23

This edition of the catalogue for the Metropolitain Museum of Art's recent(and sadly closed) exhibit belongs on every art library's list of " must buys." What a wealth of information and imagery, all presented in generous counterbalance in splendid color throughout. Buy this!!

A magnificent book for a magnificent exhibition.......1998-08-04

To visit the Burne-Jones exhibition at New York's Metropolitain Museum of Art is a thrill beyond describing. It is like being surrounded by old friends of the sort usually found in dreams.The stunning, fully illustrated catalogue that accompanies the show is perhaps the best catalogue I have seen, most notably for its impeccable and stimulating essays, and for its phenominal wealth of color reproductions. This book is a stunner, despite two or three flipped pictures( which I guess could happen to anyone in the rush to get such an involved publication ready in time!) I would advise all bookshops, libraries and Burne-Jones lovers to order this book now for its September release. It is sure to be the most valuable book on its subject for many years to come.

Chicago Architecture 1872-1922: Birth of a Metropolis (Architecture)

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Chicago Architecture 1872-1922: Birth of a Metropolis (Architecture)

Manufacturer: Prestel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 379132344X

Book Description

Chicago has long been considered the capital of American architecture. This city and its suburbs are world-famous for their Chicago School commercial buildings and Prairie School residences. From the re-building after the Great Fire of 1871 through the 1922 international competition for the Chicago Tribune tower, architects flocked to the city not only from across America, but also from Europe, to aid in the development of these schools. Figures such as Louis H. Sullivan, Holabird and Roche, William Le Baron Jenney, Burnham and Root, and Frank Lloyd Wright became household names in the history of Chicago's contributions to American architecture. But less familiar names - among them, German emigres Augustus Bauer, Otto Matz, and Peter Weber - also played a significant part in these developments. Interchanges between Chicago and, particularly, northern Europe ranged from the presence of several German architects in the city during the nineteenth century through the many Chicagoans who studied in Europe at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and returned home to make their city a "Paris on the Prairie."

Chicago Architecture, 1872-1922: Birth of a Metropolis accompanies a major traveling exhibition of the same name. Including twenty essays by leading specialists, it surveys those international interactions which helped Chicago to become the mid-western metropolis that it is today. This lavishly illustrated volume, which also contains an extensive catalogue section and an annotated bibliography, provides a contribution of lasting value to the scholarship on this important topic.

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