Lovers and Others Strangers: Paintings by Jack Vettriano (Paperback)

by Anthony Quinn (Author) "NIGHT-TIME. A young woman sits at a bar, her face in pensive profile, a cigarette drooping disconsolately from her hand..." (more)
Key Phrases: Carolyn Osborne, Gordon Smith

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Vettriano's popularity has increased so much since his paintings were first published in book form (Fallen Angels, 1995) that posters of his work are now outselling those of Van Gogh. Vettriano, a self-taught Scottish artist who is collected by celebrities and has become one himself, is portrayed here in photographs and self-portraits as a cross between Harvey Keitel and Bono, with the toughness and virility of one and the fashionable narcissism of the other. The aura of his alluring paintings is delectably noirish, and it's fitting that film-critic Quinn has written the illuminating artist profile that accompanies the lush color reproductions of Vettriano's sexy canvases, each of which is like a movie still, freezing a moment of seduction or confrontation. Elegant men and women, armed with cigarettes and cocktails, enact ritualized scenarios in which no amount of exposed flesh can inspire genuine intimacy. Even in his magical plein air compositions, his stylized figures remain wary and self-conscious. A true romantic, Vettriano paints high-gloss fantasies that gift wrap heartache. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"The text is intriguing - less biography than apology, an attempt to dismiss the mass of political opinion with a success story and include Vettriano in the cultural mainstream" (The Glasgow Herald)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Anova Books (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862056307
• ISBN-13: 978-1862056305
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #332,804 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book and a great artist that critics love to hate, December 4, 2001

By	F. Lennox Campello "f. lennox campello" (Potomac, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lovers and Other Strangers: Paintings by Jack Vettriano (Hardcover)

In 1989, or was it 1990, I stood in the Scottish Academy's "Open" show in Edinborough and marvelled at the work of an unknown Scottish miner's work named Jack Vettriano - Dammit I wish I'd had the 300 pounds to afford that wonderful painting. This is a book that shows a romantic at heart with the courage to paint what he feels regardless of modern day art critics who have failed to realize that their written word no longer carries any weight in the world of art. Vettriano is a romantic Hopper, but better - he stylizes, preaches, decorates, creates and delivers wondrous works that remind us why we love painting and painters who ignore critics and fashion and trends and paint what they want to paint. This is a success story from the very dark depths of the public's ability to make superstars in art that give art critic stomach acid for centuries to come - when their names are forgotten, Vettriano's dismissed artwork will still be colelcted, sought-after and admired. Keep them cookin' jack!

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so innocent, August 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Lovers and Other Strangers: Paintings by Jack Vettriano (Hardcover)

While I am quite a fan of Vettriano's work, most of the painting I've seen displayed on the Portland Gallery's website were of the type as "The Singing Butler." The paintings in "Lovers and Other Strangers" are not all so innocent. While they are all wonderful compostions I wasn't expecting the highly sexual nature of the pieces. (Perhaps I should have from the title.) There are several of his in this book of the type I enjoy such as "After Midnight" and "Winter Light and Lavender" I am not such a fan of Quinn's choices. While it gives a broad view of Vettriano's work you might not enjoy it if your favorite pieces are "Singing Butler" and "Mad Dogs." I do like the composition of all the pieces as well as the use of color I was not always taken with the choice of models. If you, like myself, enjoy Vettriano's work that are character studies of average people you might not care for the sexually charged nature of most of the pieces in this book.