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Visiting NYC for two weeks coincident with the limited exhibition of Matisse's work at the Museum of Modern Art, I was finally driven to begin reading the two volume biography by Spurling. This comment follows completion of the first volume. Tomorrow on to the second. It has been quite useful to have both the fine MoMA exhibition and additional works from its permanent collection available as well as the classics at the Met, while reading the book. A fair proportion in both settings were created during the period covered by the book. It is commonplace to base discussions of Matisse, less so with Picasso, on the comparison with Picasso. There is no doubt from the sources, that much of their careers involved awareness of the others existence and reaction to that fact. In this volume, Picasso enters onto the scene only near the end as both he and Matisse produce seminal works, Picasso's Brothel and Matisse's Dance. My own take on their lives, enlightened by this excellent biography of Matisse, is that, whatever may be ones conclusions as to their work, Picasso had by far the easier road to his achievements in the first decade of the 20th century than did Matisse. Picasso was born to an artistic family and was always the golden boy, as far as they and many friends were concerned. At 19, he was doing highly professional and generally accepted work, although too derivative for his taste and desire to be recognized as what he always knew he was meant to be: the greatest artist in Paris- which meant, to him, the greatest artist in the world. Matisse was born into a family and social setting which abhorred the idea of art as a way of life, had few who thought him even talented, and, at the age of 31 (in 1900), was still struggling to survive as an artist and to be judged as worthy of the title.Read more ›
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Both volumes of this biography is a stunning achievement. Love them both and will be rereading them for years to come. Matisse lucked out when Ms. Spurling decided to write his story ...and it follows the pattern of his life...just when it looks like he will be obscured...then voilà, he is given a pride of place.....in this case, he has been given one of the great biographies
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This is a great book. Definitely lives up to its title and shares many facts about Matisse it is probably not possible to find assembled anywhere else. It is wonderfully written as well as thoroughly researched. It manages to balance the artists' own struggles with the broader picture of the times and repeated wars in Europe he lived through and how an artists' life can something hinge on a handful of key supporters. How Matisse's family and a handful of collectors and fellow artists made his achievements possible. I have read quite a few books about Matisse but there is so much new information in it. I think it is particularly strong in focusing on the artistic turning points in Matisse's life and the detailed information about his relationships with other artists. There is an amazing subplot involving his wife's family and a Bernie Madoff type scandal which I had known nothing about before. Anyone who is interested in Matisse or the lives of artists in general should read this book
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This is simply a great book by a marvelously gifted writer. Hilary Spurling takes us into the life and mind of one of history's greatest creative artists and makes him come alive. A complex and at times highly anguished man, Matisse managed to soothe his troubled soul with the life-saving agency of art. An art of color and joyous effusion counterbalanced a man who more often than not could not sleep. Afflicted with life-long serious illnesses, we are amazed to see Henri survive into adulthood and reach a maturity of vision in art that continues to impact our world. This book is a must-read not only for the historically minded but for creative minds of all sorts. This book will change your worldview and open the door to a most important and improbable master of color and vision. William J. Havlicek, PhD.
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A good friend gave me Matisse the Master, the second volume of Hilary Spurling's two-volume biography. I was 100 pages into it when I decided I really needed to re-start at the beginning, so I bought The Unknown Matisse. It is one of the best biographies I've ever read. Matisse began his life in a small town where existence was still virtually medieval. With impassable roads for much of the year, life was basic and art was suspect. Despite disapproval and ridicule for his ambitions, Matisse went on to become one of the two most famous and influential artists of the 2oth century. Spurling sheds light on Matisse's struggles and humiliations as well as putting his experiences into the context of his time. You understand his later reticence after the Humbert Affair- a Bernie Madoff scenario- in which his in-laws were involved. Spurling introduces Matisse's friends, supporters and detractors and makes all the interactions so fascinating that it becomes a natural follow-up to Google all these names and follow their stories too. And then you are eager for Volume Two.
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