The Bargue-Gerome Drawing Course is a complete reprint of a famous, late nineteenth century drawing course. It contains a set of almost two hundred masterful lithographs of subjects for copying by drawing students before they attempt drawing from life or nature. Consequently it is a book that will interest artists, art students, art historians, and lovers and collectors of drawings. It also introduces us to the work and life of a hitherto neglected master: Charles Bargue. The Drawing Course consists of three sections. The first consists of plates drawn after casts, usually of antique examples. Different parts of the body are studied in order of difficulty, until full figures are presented. The second section pays homage to the western school of painting with lithographs after exemplary drawings by Renaissance and modern masters. The third part contains almost sixty academies or drawings after nude male models, all original inventions by Bargue, the lithographer. With great care, the student is introduced to continually more difficult problems in the close observing and recording of nature. Practiced professional artists will see at once the problems of representation that are approached by Bargue, and they will delight in his solutions. Figure painters will copy the plates to keep in tune; so to speak, much as pianists practice the exercises of Czerny before performing Beethoven. Art students will find it a practical and progressive introduction to realistic figure drawing. Art historians can learn by studying these drawings just what was prized in late 19th century figure painting. They will recognize the reliance upon tradition by the use of antique sculptures as models in the first part: Antiquity is here used, not to impose a classical style, but as an aid in seeing the structure of the human body with clarity and intelligence. The result is a convergence of Classicism and Realism. There are no numerical proportional charts, perspective boxes or geometrical schemata to memorize. All the techniques and schemata are developed out of and for the object or person in view. The drawings are splendid; beautiful; not simply products of assiduity, but of careful observation and the wish to transcribe and communicate the beauty of nature and light, as well as the manifold appearances of the human body. These are objectives that will touch and move any careful reader of drawings, and the figurative arts. Charles Bargue started his career as a lithographer of drawings by hack artists for a popular market in comic, sentimental and soft-porn subjects. By working with Gerome, and in preparing the plates for the course, Bargue was transformed into a spectacular painter of single figures and intimate scenes; a master of precious details that always remain observation and never became self-conscious virtuosity, of color schemes that unified his composition in exquisite tonal harmonies. The last part of the book is a biography of Bargue, along with a preliminary catalogue of his paintings, accompanied by reproductions of all that have been found and of many of those lost.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Gerald Ackerman was born in California. He completed his studies at the University of California at Berkeley, then at the University of Munich and finally at Princeton, where he received his PhD. For twenty years, he was a professor of art history at Pomona College in California. He is a specialist of Gerome and published studies on other 19th century American and European artists, as well as on the theory of academic art.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful
By "benj9"
Format:Hardcover
This book is essential for those students who wish to study art seriously, and to make themselves capable enough draftmen in order to paint. It is a complete reproduction of the "fabled but rare" drawing course used in Gerome's studio in nineteenth century Paris, comprising multiple levels of cast drawings, master-copies and linear life-drawings designed specifically to train the student's eye for painting.
The plates are meant for study, to be copied by the student for several purposes; mainly serving as an introduction to the academic drawing process, but also as an artistic and anatomical reference for showing what is essential in form - Bargue, as a teacher, is unmatched in this respect.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the study and/or appreciation of fine drawing, and cannot thank the Dahesh museum enough for compiling it!
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By "benj9"
Format:Hardcover
This book is essential for those students who wish to study art seriously, and to make themselves capable enough draftmen in order to paint. It is a complete reproduction of the "fabled but rare" drawing course used in Gerome's studio in nineteenth century Paris, comprising multiple levels of cast drawings, master-copies and linear life-drawings designed specifically to train the student's eye for painting.
The plates are meant for study, to be copied by the student for several purposes; mainly serving as an introduction to the academic drawing process, but also as an artistic and anatomical reference for showing what is essential in form - Bargue, as a teacher, is unmatched in this respect.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the study and/or appreciation of fine drawing, and cannot thank the Dahesh museum enough for compiling it!
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I saw the show that accompanied this book and it really re-invigorated me during a difficult time in my progress as an artist. Bargue is a unique figure in art history; his work is breathtaking and his career is an inspiring puzzle.
The plates from the drawing course are interesting, and certainly of historical value--I have often seen Picasso's student copies of Bargue's lithographs reproduced in books (but never credited!). However, it should be said that this course was created fairly late in the history of academic painting and did not contribute to the training of its most well-known artists, such as Bouguereau. Personally, I would not find the course very useful; in this day and age one can easily find excellent reproductions of the drawings that Bargue copied, as well as high-resolution photographs of antique sculptures. It is informative to see how Bargue simplified forms, but I think one would be better off drawing from life than from his lithographs.
It is Bargue's paintings that really deserve the most notice, although they seem to have been included in this book (and in the exhibition) almost as an afterthought. His technique is exquisite beyond description, comparable to the very best of the Dutch masters. The plates, although good, don't begin to capture the impossible perfection of his work--I doubt that any reproduction could. He describes surfaces and textures with a graceful delicacy that I've never seen surpassed. His draftsmanship and sense of gesture are understated yet flawless, and his compositions--consisting of orientalist and historical genre subjects--are delightful if not particularly original.
It is distressing that so little is known of his life, other than the fact that he was, perplexingly, rather unsuccessful.... Read more ›
The plates from the drawing course are interesting, and certainly of historical value--I have often seen Picasso's student copies of Bargue's lithographs reproduced in books (but never credited!). However, it should be said that this course was created fairly late in the history of academic painting and did not contribute to the training of its most well-known artists, such as Bouguereau. Personally, I would not find the course very useful; in this day and age one can easily find excellent reproductions of the drawings that Bargue copied, as well as high-resolution photographs of antique sculptures. It is informative to see how Bargue simplified forms, but I think one would be better off drawing from life than from his lithographs.
It is Bargue's paintings that really deserve the most notice, although they seem to have been included in this book (and in the exhibition) almost as an afterthought. His technique is exquisite beyond description, comparable to the very best of the Dutch masters. The plates, although good, don't begin to capture the impossible perfection of his work--I doubt that any reproduction could. He describes surfaces and textures with a graceful delicacy that I've never seen surpassed. His draftsmanship and sense of gesture are understated yet flawless, and his compositions--consisting of orientalist and historical genre subjects--are delightful if not particularly original.
It is distressing that so little is known of his life, other than the fact that he was, perplexingly, rather unsuccessful.... Read more ›
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By S. Cvar
Format:Hardcover
This book is a classic. It is used as a textbook in Florence, Italy for serious drawing classes with excellent results.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I too have purchased the Charles Bargue Book, and although I am thrilled with the plates, I agree, the notes supplied are not quite enough.
For anyone seriously interested in doing the Bargue Drawing Course, I highly recommend supplementing it with "The Bargue Drawing Companion DVD", produced by Fernando Freitas, of the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto, where the course is taught as part of the drawing curriculum. It will guide you through all the relevant stages of the Bargue drawing technique, and includes printable pages of course notes. As far as I know, no one is offering anything comparable.
Having the Bargue Drawing Companion insruction in DVD form makes it particularly useful as a reference tool. You get to watch a real master in process, which is especially useful when it comes to his technique for the rendering of form. The DVD covers the preparation of materials, the essentials of measurement and proprtion, 'drawing in the flat', the principles of light and dark, and the final rendering of values and forms. [...]
For anyone seriously interested in doing the Bargue Drawing Course, I highly recommend supplementing it with "The Bargue Drawing Companion DVD", produced by Fernando Freitas, of the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto, where the course is taught as part of the drawing curriculum. It will guide you through all the relevant stages of the Bargue drawing technique, and includes printable pages of course notes. As far as I know, no one is offering anything comparable.
Having the Bargue Drawing Companion insruction in DVD form makes it particularly useful as a reference tool. You get to watch a real master in process, which is especially useful when it comes to his technique for the rendering of form. The DVD covers the preparation of materials, the essentials of measurement and proprtion, 'drawing in the flat', the principles of light and dark, and the final rendering of values and forms. [...]
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Cat
Format:Hardcover
This is a fantastic book. I just ordered it from the Dahesh Musuem in New York for $75. I don't understand why the used book sellers are selling the book for so much.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Myriad
Format:Hardcover
This is the best learning tool out there short of having an actual teacher. Hundreds of drawings waiting to be imitated in order to correct ones vision of what one sees. Finish this book and you'll know how to draw. Method used by many artists in the past including van gogh. This is my favorite of the dozens of art books I own. Am also glad someone mentioned buying it from the museum rather that the overpriced vendors offers.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fully satisfied
My book arrived on time and perfectly packed and in excellent conditions. The content of the book is awesome. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Jorge Cornejo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great reference for academic drawing
This is a great reference for academic drawing ateliers . The Theory of drawing and the different techniques of rendering are brought to the reader's attention . Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mazen
5.0 out of 5 stars
YOU NEED THIS BOOK!
I could not belive how quickly I learned to draw beautifully with this book! Well worth the high cost and beats all the other books I bought by a mile! Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for teaching figure drawing!
I teach high school art and was impressed at my students' ability to copy the cast drawings in this book. I think it's a very helpful tool in teaching students life drawing.
Published 4 months ago by Mayre Stewart
4.0 out of 5 stars
For the Classical Artist at Heart
A must have in your drawing resource or go to book for the serious artist in classical drawing. M. Tostado
Published 4 months ago by Mario T
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic drawing course
This book is a standard drawing text for classical art ateliers in many parts of the world. The plates are the same that were used in the mid 1800's on. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Robert T. Pack
5.0 out of 5 stars
For anyone Looking to Learn real Classical Drawing Techniques!!!
This course is well worth the money. If you want to obtain a solid set of drawing skills, then this is the book! Read more
Published 5 months ago by chris leary
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful.
This is the third copy I have bought, used as given as a gift. It is a wonderful source material for teachers and any serious art student. Read more
Published 6 months ago by mary
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and extremely useful book
There are a lot of Brague drawing fanatics out there, and I don't think I'm one of them - yet. I'm training to do commercial art first and foremost and unfortunately do not have... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Isabella Chen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Artist's view
This is a book covering the purist drawing of the human figure (predominantly male) from the original illustrations. There is no explanation of the underlying anatomy. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rose Hill
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
