Capturing Nureyev: James Wyeth Paints the Dancer [Hardcover]

Pamela J. Belanger (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

A well-known American artist reveals the grace and grandeur of a famed dancer.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

10 1/4 x10 1/4 trim. 77 illus. (55 color)

About the Author

A third generation American painter, JAMES WYETH is renowned for his insightful portriats of subjects ranging from his father (Portrait of Andrew Wyeth) to pop art icon (Portrait of Andy Warhol). PAMELA J. BELANGER, Farnsworth's Curator of Collections, is author of Inventing Arcadia and Maine in America. CLIVE BARNES is New York Post dance critic and author of the biography Nureyev.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Farnsworth; 1st edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918749107
• ISBN-13: 978-0918749109
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,414,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Degas, May 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Capturing Nureyev: James Wyeth Paints the Dancer (Hardcover)

Jamie Wyeth truly captures the spirit of Nureyev! The essays by Barnes, Phyllis Wyeth/Larsen (with intimate photographs by Susan Gray) and Lauren Raye Smith are enlightening, informative and truly moving.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating series of preliminary drawings for a final portrait, September 1, 2011

By 

C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Capturing Nureyev: James Wyeth Paints the Dancer (Hardcover)

This is a bit different from many art books. The artist James Wyeth asked dancer Rudolf Nureyev if he would pose for a portrait. Whereas Nureyev initially declined, later he accepted the invitation and Jamie Wyeth developed over 30 preliminary mixed media drawings of the dancer before completing the final oil painting of the artist. The book includes these 30 drawings, the final oil, and a series of mixed media drawings that appear to be derived from photographs of the dance on stage. I found the work to be highly compelling for Nureyev was a strikingly handsome man with extremely strong facial features that Wyeth never played down or softened. Possibly the most subdued work in the book is the final oil painting, with all the subtle tones and textures of a Thomas Eakins painting. However, it is the wildest and most dramatic drawings that seemed to capture the personality of Nureyev. With wild hair and dramatic black eye-liner, some images capture the androgynous aspect of Nureyev. Most of the preliminary drawings are black and white chalk or conti-crayon on yellow ochre or burnt sienna pastel paper. However, often gouache is also used to dramatic effects on the works. I recommend the book to fans of Nureyev but also for young artists who may need examples of the pains and plans that a professional artist must undertake to derive the final selection of composition for a finished portrait. Wyeth is both controlled and then at times draws with wild abandon and his drawings are highly compelling.