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Review
"This book is extraordinary in revealing not only so much about Matisse that was previously unknown and unexpected, but also so much of real importance to an understanding of him and his art . . . Truly indispensable for anyone interested in Matisse, or in the milieu in which he lived and worked, or in the forces that shaped the art of this century--with a human dimension that is vividly drawn, utrterly compelling, and profoundly moving."
--John Elderfield, curator of the 1992 Matisse retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art, New York
"Hilary Spurling, most accomplished of biographers, sheds an entirely new light on the humiliations and failures that Henri Matisse had to overcome in order to develop into the greatest French painter of this century. Her account of Matisse's early years is as riveting as a novel by Zola."
--John Richardson, author of A Life of Picasso
"Besides being a first-rate scholar, Hilary Spurling is an artist in narrative who has unearthed a fascinating story and told it brilliantly. This is a terrific achievement."
--Michael Holroyd, author Bernard Shaw
--John Elderfield, curator of the 1992 Matisse retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art, New York
"Hilary Spurling, most accomplished of biographers, sheds an entirely new light on the humiliations and failures that Henri Matisse had to overcome in order to develop into the greatest French painter of this century. Her account of Matisse's early years is as riveting as a novel by Zola."
--John Richardson, author of A Life of Picasso
"Besides being a first-rate scholar, Hilary Spurling is an artist in narrative who has unearthed a fascinating story and told it brilliantly. This is a terrific achievement."
--Michael Holroyd, author Bernard Shaw
"From the Hardcover edition."
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"Hilary Spurling's THE UNKNOWN MATISSE is a truly wonderful biography. Her prose is muscular, rhythmical, carrying a lot of information, yet swift, enthralling. She has done for Matisse what George Painter famously did for Proust in the 1950s. Besides being a first-rate scholar, she is an artist in narrative who has unearthed a fascinating story and told it brilliantly. I rate this first volume with the first volume of Richard Holmes's COLERIDGE . Both books mark a climax in what has been called a golden age of modern biography which began with Richard Ellman's JAMES JOYCE. It is a terrific achievement." Michael Holroyd
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Matisse has always suffered from bad press. In his home town he was known as a triple failure: He couldn't take over the family seed store, he didn't make a career in law work and he threw away a chance to be a popular Salon artist. When people saw his latest paintings, they were often overwhelmed and unprepared for what they saw. Only a few visionary collectors and fellow artists understood his ground-breaking efforts. Picasso and those who supported Picasso felt that they had to run down Matisse to help their own cause . . . despite having "borrowed" heavily from Matisse. Later, most of Matisse's early masterpieces were hidden away in foreign, private collections while crowds jeered at his latest work.
The pain of all this was immense for Matisse. But his private sorrows were made even greater by the difficulties he had in developing his style, the birth of an illegitimate child whom he acknowledged who suffered from serious health problems, and the poverty that dogged him until he was around 40. What is less well known is that his in-laws became embroiled in one of the most celebrated scandals of all time in France, and Matisse found himself drawn into saving them.
Ms. Spurling does well in capturing the agony of being Matisse.
Her style though leaves something to be desired. Much of the information is superficial rather than revealing. In many cases, I felt like I was reading someone's unreflective daily diary. An exception was the material on the Humbert Scandal which Ms. Spurling has also written about quite well in La Grande Therese.
Ms. Spurling also could have included more about Matisse's art in this book.
But you will learn a lot about Matisse from this book that you won't find in most other sources.
I found the recent companion volume, Matisse the Master, to be much more rewarding. If you decide to read only one of the two books, I suggest that one. But you may decide to come back and read this one later, as I did.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I ordered this first volume of Hilary Spurling's acclaimed biography of Henri Matisse, I was looking for the man behind the paintings. At 400+ pages, I hardly expected it to be a page-turner too, but it is - a compelling read. An unforgettable story of dedication, hardship and achievement, it is moving in its portrait of Matisse the man and enlightening in the way it charts his constant development as an artist.
Written with compassion, clarity and wit, beautifully produced and illustrated. A revelation. A delight.
Written with compassion, clarity and wit, beautifully produced and illustrated. A revelation. A delight.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderful and astounding biography of Matisse. The author has made completly new discoveries about his life and work. She opens a window into understanding Matisse's work that is a complete revelation. The details and quotes bring Matisse and his time to life in an amazing way.
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