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Product Description
This is a glorious 25th anniversary reissue of this classic book. Illuminating & fascinating, it covers the classic art techniques perfected by 16th and 17th century masters. These include Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Titian & Reuben, all enhanced with full-colour demonstrations.This illuminating and fascinating book, reissued for the 25th anniversary of its publication, covers the techniques perfected by 16th and 17th century masters, studying protraits by Titian, Caravaggio, Reubens and Rembrandt and many more. In this unique book, Joseph Sheppard, a leading contemporary painter, shows you in detailed, full-colour demonstrations the variety of oil painting techniques perfected by the old masters. The techniques Sheppard describes cover the full spectrum from the direct painting (alla prima) of Rubens and Hals to the elaborate underpainting and glazing methods of Rembrandt and Titian. Each chapter is devoted to a different master covering his background, style and techniques.
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Most artists and students are overwhelmed by the technical virtuosity of the old masters, particularly the oil painters of the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Most artists and students are overwhelmed by the technical virtuosity of the old masters, particularly the oil painters of the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I feel I must point out that although this book has some useful tips for painters Shepherds finished paintings' are pretty dreadful and look nothing like the works of the masters he claims to be emulating. Don't buy this book if you want to learn how to paint like the greats. Do buy it if you feel the need for some useful old masterish colour tips and want to integrate them into your own work.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This one book contains far more information on techniques of painting than I was taught in a year of Higher Art Education . If you are a painter who wishes to advance your knowledge of Oil painting technique , you might well find this book as helpful as I have . Although it is true that many of the paintings included are quite unlike those of the artist they attempt to mimic , this is a relatively trivial flaw and can be easily put down to the sheer difficulty involved in attempting to closely emulate so many markedly different styles . What the author does do is seemingly to incorporate what he regards as the major elements of each of the artists work into a painting that remains chiefly 'his own work '. The chief exception to this rule is probably the 'Rubens' portrait , which actually does closely resemble a painting by Rubens . What is most valuable about the book is the plethora of information about colour technique , the use of mediums and the differing processses that the artists allegedly used during the manufacture of their paintings . Although I suspect that some of this information is assumed to be true by the author , rather than having been actually proven to be , this again , as a problem , pales in comparison to the fact that much of what he observes here is probably very close to the truth and is information that has seemingly been virtually lost by the modern education system .
39 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mr. Sheppard has turned his considerable talent and experience to recreating the materials and techniques that may have been used by the Old Masters of oil painting--Rubens, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, and Titian , to name a few. Rather than apply thick paint on the canvas, the Masters developed their works slowly, over a period of weeks or months, applying layer upon layer of translucent glazes to a gray or brown underpaining. The result is color that is more luminous and vibrant than paint straight from the tube. Mr. Sheppard also provides directions for recreating the Masters' painting medium, a mixture of oil and varnish with the consistency of jelly. I myself did not have the patience (nor, given the obvious health risks in using the powdered lead and high temperatures the recipe requires, the inclination) to create this medium at home, but I am told it is available commercially. Mr. Sheppard is also thoughtful enough to provide recipes for substitute mediums, for those of us of a less adventurous spirit. As for the techniques themselves, there is no denying the author's pure talent, and his prose is bot engaging and informative, but make no mistake: this is not a book intended for the beginner. The reader can see the progression of each painting in a series of illustrations, but several crucial steps are completed in the space of a paragraph, and only a practiced eye can see precisely how the author has completed each step. I was also disappointed that Sheppard has chosen to create one or, at most, two paintings in the style of each Master. His Titian nude, for example, fairly glows on the page, and his sole Rembrandt recreation, that of an old man, rivals and perhaps exceeds many of Rembrandt's own paintings. I would relish the opportunity to see him create more. Still, in exploring the possibilities of the Old Masters (no records of their actual materials or techniques truly exist, so Sheppard has made at best an exceptionally educated guess), I realized the possibilities that can be achieved in my own painting, with patience, practice, and diligence. At the very least, check the book out of the library, get a fresh canvas, and explore the possibilities yourself. You will take something with you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent guide to technique
I recall borrowing a copy of this book from my local library about 30 years ago. It was a revelation to me then and I have owned a copy ever since. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Phillyfan
ottimo
Se lo trovassi in italiano sarei felicissima. E' un libro indispensabile. Lo consiglio a chi vuole imparare a dipingere bene.
Published 11 months ago by lucia maria
nothing really useful
I didn't find much useful stuff in this book. You'll find descriptions of these techniques with much more depth on the Internet for free. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Petri
Very poor book.
I have studied many books on how to paint and I cannot find any useful information in this book. One problem is that, in my opinion the author cannot paint well himself. Read more
Published on 1 July 2006 by Paul Harris
A True Master
I have worked as a painter for almost forty years using classical oil painting techniques. After reading 'How To Paint Like The Old Masters' by Joseph Sheppard I am all the more... Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2000
A Fascinating Look at Possibilities
Mr. Sheppard has turned his considerable talent and experience to recreating the materials and techniques that may have been used by the Old Masters of oil painting--Rubens,... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 1999
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