My Italian Sketchbook (Sketchbooks) [Hardcover]

Florine Asch (Author), Dominique Fernandez (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Sketchbooks | Publication Date: May 2, 2003

In My Italian Sketchbook, 30-year-old artist Florine Asch follows the tradition of the 18th century Grand Tour, when writers, architects and members of European high-society embarked on long journeys around Italy, taking in key cultural sites, often sketching as they went.

Asch's sketches are full of character, light-hearted, spirited and bursting with charm. Her fresh approach leaves us full of respect for the classical wonders of Italy's art and architecture, but also opens our eyes to the equally delightful architecture of today's stores, the markets, and local life.

My Italian Sketchbook is a must-have for Italy lovers and all those who paint in watercolor or simply appreciate this delicate art.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Florine Asch is an illustrator and watercolor artist who has worked for several years for prestigious brands both in Paris and abroad. She has illustrated numerous publications and magazines. She also designs tableware and brings back travel sketchbooks from all over the world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Flammarion (May 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2080111477
• ISBN-13: 978-2080111470
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,302,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wonders Of Italy Gloriously Portrayed In Watercolors!, August 6, 2003

By 

Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Italian Sketchbook (Sketchbooks) (Hardcover)

Florine Asch allows us to accompany her on a Grand Tour of Italy. She takes us along, at a leisurely pace, that does recall a time when travel was more about the journey than the destination. Dominique Fernandez, who writes the Introduction to "My Italian Sketchbook," tells us that "tourist" originally meant, "one who travels, not to arrive, but aimlessly, as the servant of beauty."

Ms. Asch's attachment to Italy is palpable in her glorious sketches, all executed in watercolor. Her elegant sketches, 100 of them, depict the known sites, and the scenes that are rarely seen by the hurried tourist. She captures a sunset view of Saint Peter's in Rome, the beauty of Lake Como, a Tuscan landscape, the medieval majesty of Sienna, the Renaissance glory of Firenze, the Duomo in Milan, a studio filled with Greek plaster figures, a horse and buggy by Rome's Trevi Fountain, the carnival in Venice, street scenes in Naples, a Sicilian piazza, and marketplace.

Florine Asch uniquely portrays the ordinary and extraordinary vistas, and views, of Italy. My tourist photographs never looked like this. A wonderful book to keep as a remembrance, or to give as a gift. Anyone who loves all things Italian, will love this book. I certainly do!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful sketches bring you to places, January 9, 2009

By 

Parka (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: My Italian Sketchbook (Hardcover)

Length:: 0:17 Mins

My Italian Sketchbook is a travelogue made with watercolour paintings. The illustrations are drawn by Florine Asch for her Grand Tour of Italy. Included right at the start are two well written stories on the history of Grand Tour, and on Asch's work.

The Grand Tour was the traditional travel of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. You can read more about the Grand Tour on wikipedia.

Covered in the book are places such as Milan, Venice, Verona, Florence, Tuscany, Rome, Naples and Sicily. Captured in watercolour are the amazing architecture of Italian buildings, their people and way of life. The paintings are captioned with personal notes and sometimes with quotes from Asch's favourite books.

The hardcover is actually clothed cardboard with a white textured paper pasted over it for the cover art.

If you like this artistic style, also check out My Paris Sketchbook by Alain Bouldouyre.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful watercolors of glorious Italy!, June 16, 2007

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Italian Sketchbook (Hardcover)

I have loved Italy since I was a child, something about the people, the food, the great scenery, old, historic monuments, there is just so much to learn about and appreciate, and this wonderful gem of a sketchbook does just that. Florine Asch takes us on a Grand Tour of Italy which is brought to life by her amazing, beautiful, detailed watercolors - MIlan & the Lakes [also noteworthy are depictions of daily life like in the bustling markets], Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome [the Piazza Navona], the Bay of Naples & Sicily. It is a riot of color, a lush depiction of Italian life, and the beautiful rendering of the Italian countryside & cities. A wonderful addition to the Sketchbooks series [of which I am a collector].