Customer Reviews

Drawn into the Light: Jean Francois Millet

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This book is a catalogue for an exhibition that was held at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The reproductions do not represent the full work of Millet but rather the selection of works that was presented in that exhibition. There are many reproductions of drawings, pastels and watercolors, and only a few paintings. Many of the drawings are preparations for larger scale paintings. I bought the book after a visit to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and was disappointed not to find many paintings that I remember from that visit - not even "The Angelus", which is probably Millet's most famous work. Still there is a large number of beautiful drawings and paintings, and the introductory text is interesting. I wish the reproductions would be larger - there are only about ten full page reproductions throughout the book.

This is the first quality pyblication I have found on Millet. While I was looking for more of a coffe table type book of his paintings, I was slighlty disappointed that many of his works were not included but the history of his life more than makes up for it.

I first found this book at the bookshop of the Clark Museum (where the exhibit had been held). The reproductions both in color and black and white were amazing, and the text intelligent and informative. The price was prohibitive. I looked on Amazon, and found a used copy in excellent condition for literally 1/2 the price. This is a gorgeous book, a treasure! Jean Francois Millet was a marvelous artist, and his work was influential and inspirational to Vincent van Gogh.