Giorgio Morandi (Twentieth-Century Masters Series) [Hardcover]

Karen Wilkin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Twentieth-Century Masters Series | Publication Date: January 1, 1997

This much-anticipated volume presents the work of the private, enigmatic Bolognese painter and engraver. The text traces Morandi's many influences, from Giotto to Cezanne and the Metaphysical painters to the Cubists, and discusses the manner in which his life and work have informed the critical interpretations of his art. A wealth of color reproductions illustrates every phase of Morandi's career, including his signature still lifes and landscapes with their serene groupings of muted objects.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Few major twentieth-century artists seem duller at first glance than Morandi (1890^-1964). Except for some very early portraits, his work is "about" just three things: the landscape, with windowless houses, of hilly northern Italy; the courtyard of Morandi's apartment building in Bologna; and bottles, bowls, boxes, and other utensils atop a table. His palette of dusty hues is more subdued than that of the cubists, he regards his subjects from directly in front of them, and, except in the paintings from the year he was influenced by Di Chirico, he eschews dramatic effects. Those who know painting, however, see Morandi as the greatest disciple of Ce zanne and a painter whose subject is seeing itself and who, in the acts of seeing and representing, teases out meaning and feeling. Wilkin, one of the best contemporary writers on art, helps us realize Morandi's relationship to Ce zanne and also to the much earlier Giotto and Piero della Francesca brilliantly well. With 116 plates, an excellent library choice. Ray Olson

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847819477
• ISBN-13: 978-0847819478
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.6 x 11.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #472,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My oldest possession., February 8, 2002

By 

Jerry Gunning - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giorgio Morandi (Twentieth-Century Masters Series) (Hardcover)

It's true, this book is my oldest possession, from an earlier printing, I've had this book since the early 70's. If you are a painter and want to learn how to put space and light into your work then this book is your greatest resource and greatest challenge. For those in the know, Morandi is THE ONE for creating a palpable space in two demensions. The space shimmers and moves - it's real!

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, June 2, 2000

By 

Orley Kathleen Marron - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giorgio Morandi (Twentieth-Century Masters Series) (Hardcover)

The prints are excellent - both in terms of variety and quality of print. I use them in classes and they are really a treasure. The text is very readable and enjoyable as well (though I care more about the print quality).

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Reproduction Quality is Very Poor, October 17, 2008

By 

Dave D. (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giorgio Morandi (Twentieth-Century Masters Series) (Hardcover)

The color quality of the plates (or reproductions of the paintings) in this book are terrible. One plate was even backwards. I am not reviewing the authors writing in any way, but who would want an art book that had lousy pictures of the art?

Here is how I know:

I recently was visiting my mother in NYC when I went to the Morandi show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love Morandi so much I went to the museum bookstore afterwords to buy a book. I have a masters degree in fine art with a major in painting so I know when buying an art book to check the quality of the photographic plates, especially for color. I repeat, this book has terrible reproduction quality (for example the light greens appear a dark brownish green and the contrast is to high - this last point is not to picky as Morandi's color palette is very delicate - and high contrast ruins it.)

The best book I found at the Museum store (I am going from memory here) was the one published by Museo Morandi (I did not see it for sale on Amazon). A very close second was Giorgio Morandi 1890-1964: Nothing Is More Abstract Than Reality (Hardcover), published for the show at the Met. (One note, the book on sale at the museum has a different color cover, but otherwise it seems to be the same as the one found on Amazon.) Good luck!