Customer Reviews

Artists' Houses

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In Artists' Houses, historian and art critic Gerard-Georges Lemaire has compiled and written a informed and informative work that blends art history, interior design, and biographical sketches of fourteen fascinating artists from Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and America. The reader is treated to a kind of survey of the private homes of these extraordinary men and women who put as much care and creativity into the design and furbishing of their homes and gardens as they did their paintings. The artists featured include Andre Derain, Frantisek Bilek, Frederic Church, Alphonse Mucha, Rene Magreitte, Rosa Bonheur, Gustave Moreau, William Morris, Gabrielle Munter, James Ensor, Claude Money, Alfred Kubin, Giorgio De Chirico, and the members of the Bloomsbury Group. The fascinating text is wonderfully illustrated throughout with the impressively visual photography of Jean-Claude Amiel. Enhanced with the inclusion of a House Directory and a Bibliography, Artists' Houses is an strongly recommended addition to academic library Art History collections -- and would make a superb Memorial Fund Acquisition choice community libraries as well.

I was disappointed when first looking at this book as I thought it was about current artists but after spending some time with it I was rather pleased. The photos of the artists' homes and studios together with information about the artists and their friends made for an interesting book. You can always set it out on the coffee table to impress your friends!

This book provides a wonderful perspective on the artist, as one who paints,(attempts to paint)it was most enjoyable and educational to see and learn how truly gifted artists worked. It put so much in perspective.

Escape into alternate worlds. I got to know artists and glimpsed worlds far away from box stores. I loved the Bloomsbury group stories and seeing how creative minds shaped their innermost sanctuaries. I wanted more, especially more about American artists. Maybe a sequel?? Overall, it was inspiring.

I am an artist, so I bought this book for my coffee table. Good looking cover, as well as interesting homes pictured inside.