A beautiful anthology of Impressionist paintings by a dazzling roll-call of artists. One of the world's best-loved art historians, Sister Wendy Beckett combines her deep knowledge of art history with her unique powers of observation to create a personal anthology of over 50 Impressionist masterpieces. Led by visionary artists such as Manet, Monet, and Pissarro, the Impressionists sought to capture the brilliant colors of nature and the ever-changing effects of light on a scene. Sister Wendy invites us to immerse ourselves in the colorful, energizing , and revolutionary paintings of this late 19th-century movement. Gallery of Great Artists: From Bonnard and Cezanne to Toulouse-Lautrec and Vuillard, all the artists are presented alphabetically, and each is represented by one or two key works. Here you will find the leading French Impressionists including Degas, Renoir, and Signac. Also represented are Singer Sarget, and Whistler, American artists who trained in Paris and knew and worked alongside the Impressionists. Sister Wendy also includes Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot, female Impressionists whose paintings captured the intimacy of domestic life. Sister Wendy invites us to take a fresh look at Impressionism. Seen through her eyes, each of the paintings in her wide-ranging selection weaves its magic around you when you follow her lead.
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In the nun's simple language, the most arcane paintings suddenly seem to convey real stories. (The New York Times)
About the Author
Born and raised in England, Sister Wendy Beckett entered the Roman Catholic order of the Sisters of Notre Dame at the age of 16. After her novitiate, she graduated with highest honors from Oxford University. Utilizing her degree in English literature, she moved to South Africa to become a teacher and, later, university lecturer. She was Reverend Mother of her convent when she was stricken with epilepsy. Granting her wish to lead a less hectic life, her order allowed Sister Wendy to return to England to live in seclusion under the protection of the Carmelite Order. From her cloister, Sister Wendy led a life of contemplation and prayer, taking on translation projects to pay the bills. After completing a five-volume collection of translated medieval Latin sermons, she asked to study art with the idea of producing a book which would help bring in some money to the Order. She began her study with library books and postcards of art works donated by various museums, eventually publishing a book of art history. A BBC producer stumbled across her writing and thought her "bizarre wit and contemplative insights" would come across well on television. She was invited to be the art critic for a documentary on London's National Gallery. In Sister Wendy's words, "...from that wretched book, it was downhill all the way." Sister Wendy's Odyssey proved to be a smash hit. There followed a journey to Europe's finest galleries in Sister Wendy's Grand Tour. Finally, her magnum opus, Sister Wendy's Story of Painting, and her companion art book caused a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic. She has since written more than a dozen books on art, prayer, love, and meditation. Sister Wendy currently lives in a trailer on the grounds of a Carmelite monastery in Norfolk, England, where she continues to live a secluded and disciplined life of prayer and contemplation in which art plays a major role.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
BIG Sister Wendy all over -- Enjoy this addition to her critical/appreciative works!,
By Beyond-Is-Within Also (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sister Wendy's Impressionist Masterpieces (Hardcover)
Lynn's brief review below, oddly, just about sums it up -- except to point out that the book is HUGE (10.5" by 12.25"); the 50 featured paintings -- many famous, many less so -- are BIGGER, typically running over a page each; and the reproduction quality is high enough to capture many subtle paint/canvas effects. The commentary alongside each work is indeed "just right", with the curious lack of an Introduction being more or less made up for as the commentary goes along. Lynn's key phrase below is clearly "Sister Wendy Book" -- those familiar with this woman's singular sensibility from earlier books and/or TV features will be well "plugged in" to get the most out of both her selections and their associated interpretive material. If you're not one of these, DO avail yourself of her other popular books or -- better -- check out some of her videos, to get acquainted with this fascinating recluse/teacher with a nun's sartorial habit but none of the associated behavioral ones!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hey, Want to See a Great Art Book?,
By Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Sister Wendy's Impressionist Masterpieces (Hardcover)
It is terrific. The reprints of the paintings are terrific and the commentary is just right, not too much and enough for a novice to learn from. A great Sister Wendy book.
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