Customer Reviews

Antonio Mancini: Nineteenth-Century Italian Master (Philadelphia Museum of Art)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had seen Mancini's "Resting" at the Art Institute of Chicago for years and marveled at its beauty and its mystery. Who was Antonio Mancini? Cudos to the Art Institute for their insight and willingness to hang this fairly unknown artist on it valuable wall space. This book answers all those questions. Mancini is first and foremost an excellent artist. The closest I can think of might be Fechen (Mancini's later work esp.) Fairly loose with tighter work in the face and hands. Every painting in this book has people as its subject matter. This book goes into detail about the artist fairly difficult life. He had a few mental problems. The reproductions are well done and most are in color. Considering this is the only book in english on the artist, we take what we can get. If you are at all into the current "Clasical Realist" or "Representationist" movement, get this book. You will finish it wanting more. Which is how a great book should be.

Mancini is one of the most amazingly unknown artists of the 19th C. The texture that gives his paintings such a powerful presence also makes them impossible to reproduce, but I think this book does a decent job. It is a compelling read -- Mancini's story is very engaging. I hope this marks the beginning of more notice to one of
the greatest talents ever to pick up a paint brush.

This is a must have book for any lover of painterly naturalism.
Few artists have ever possessed the combination of the subtleness of Mancini's modelling and sensitive drawing with his highly expressive use of paint. His painterly talents are in par with Titian and Rembrandt. Among more recent painters, he can be compared to Nicolai Fechin. I wonder if Fechin was familiar with Mancini's work; it appears as if he was. However, this book and a book I have on Fechin by Mary N. Balcomb do not mention the link.

VERY rare opportunity to read a well written review of this artist and his life. After seeing the show, the reproduction leave a little to be desired but most publishers only do an adequate job at this price level. Overall, an excellent buy and tremendous research aid in the study of this enormously talented artist.

I had never heard of Mancini before until I came across a quote by John Singer Sargent that said, "I just met the greatest living painter, he lives in Italy and his name is Mancini".
With a recommendation like that, I actively went out and began to search for books on Mancini. Sadly there aren't that many. I found this book here on Amazon and it was the best price I could find. I'm very happy I bought it, though the reproductions aren't always of the best quality. This is not the fault of the vendor, who sent the book right away and it arrived promptly and in perfect condition. The fact is that there just aren't to many books on Mancini out there. Of all the books I've come across, this is by far the best. I have to admit that I, being an artist by trade, am a little more aware of the reproductive quality than most and probably a lot more finicky. I think the average person will think the reproductions are fine.
Mancini's life is fascinating and sad and though I rarely read these kinds of books (I'm an artist, I usually just collect them for the pictures and for inspiration), I found that I could not put it down. Mancini's story is tragic and inspiring and at times I felt like crying and other times, I had to get up and start painting. He is beautiful and the work is beautiful. I feel like Don Maclean's Starry Starry Night, could have been written about Mancini, instead of Van Gogh.
If you are an artist and you want to read about real passion, while at the same time being inspired by shear technical mastery of a relatively unknown painter, this is the book for you.

Can you please tell me if this book includes an overview and image of the paiting by Mancini called Resting - which is my favorite? I would love to own this book - and yes, I find it very expensive - hence I really need to know this before I order. Thank you all for your help! Great artist - I am sure this book is fascinating like his life and his art.

Excelent book, a must, a painter like him deserves a book like this, excelent images, I recommend it as a must for painters, if you are not a painter you also will enjoy it

The reproduction quality of images is very good. This catalogue allows to know some masterpieces of this genius, that like Caravaggio still remains one of the great realist painters.
This is a precious catalogue because it's difficult to find other Mancini publications.
Don't miss it!