A close friend of William Dean Howells, John Singer Sargent, and the legendary collector Isabella Stewart Gardner, who became his champion, Dennis Miller Bunker (1861-1890) was one of the most talented painters of late 19th-century America. His sudden death at age 29 interrupted one of Boston's most promising talents. This handsomely illustrated volume is the definitive study of Bunker's life and work, and the only book currently available on this fascinating, tragic artist. ADD ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Erica Hirshler is John Moors Cabot Curator of American paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Her other books include the forthcoming A Studio of Her Own: Boston Women Artists, 1870-1940.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
One of the first American impressionist painters, Dennis Miller Bunker is not generally remembered today, yet this impressive, beautiful album, which accompanies a traveling exhibition, should bring his pioneering work to a wider audience. Born in New York in 1861, Bunker spent two years in France (1882-84), painting picturesque scenes of Brittany, then moved to Boston. There he broke with the Emersonian tradition of deriving spiritual elevation from nature, and instead used quick brush strokes and bright colors in pictures that combine meticulous clarity and impressionist poetry. Bunker, who died at the age of 29, probably of cerebrospinal meningitis, numbered among his friends John Singer Sargent, William Dean Howells and collector Isabella Stewart Gardner. Hirshler, a curator at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, and art historian Curry weave a biographical profile around the 46 color plates.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book on Dennis Miller Bunker,
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This review is from: Dennis Miller Bunker: American Impressionist (Hardcover)
Bunker is among the most talented painters that America has produced. He had extraordinary command of drawing, value and color. His best work conveys dimension, atmosphere, light and mass in a manner that few painters have matched. To me, his ability to make the objects, even wilting roses, in his paintings look "solid" sets him apart from most of his piers. His pictures have an ususual poetic beauty and elan. He could paint portraits, still lifes and landscapes ALL of world class caliber. His best portraits have the emotional impact of an Eakins but with arguably greater beauty and ease. His still lifes, like the sketches of roses beautifully depicted in the book (in large color details), certainly rival, perhaps better, Decker, LaFarge and Fantin Latour. His best paintings are honest and effortless, with a holographic quality, mystery and harmony of color that makes them very satisfying to enjoy time and time again. Gammell's Bunker book is more fun to read and does a better job at describing why Bunker's work is so special, but Hirschler's book is more scholarly and far better illustrated. Ideally, If you love Bunker's work as I do, you would own both. If I could only have one book though, I would choose Hirschler's. My copy is wearing out!
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MY ART BOOK REVIEWS: It might seem as though I rate most art books very favorably. The reason for this is that I usually visit my local library before buying a book. I'll look at all (in print and out of print) of the Rembrandt (for example) books and choose my favorite one to purchase. In the case of an artist's monograph, I try to choose one or two comprehensive books for each artist. These are generally large, well illustrated hardcovers with above average reproduction quality and informative text, often by one of the leading scholars on the artist. Thus, by the time I purchase a book, I have already found it to be among the best available on the subject.
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