Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Materials of the Artist and Their Use in Painting: With Notes on the Techniques of the Old Masters, Revised Edition by Max Doerner, Eugen Neuhaus ISBN: 0-15-657716-X Publisher: Harvest Books Pub. Date: October, 1984 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.75 (4 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Interesting, but cumbersome language
Comment: As a novice painter (hobbyist) with great admiration for the works of the Great Masters, I purchased this as a textbook to help me understand the great works as well as to learn proper technique. Given my "real world" schedule, it would be impossible to get to a proper art class, so this was to be a compromise. It is full of fascinating historical details, but the language used is often so cumbersome it's difficult to follow unless one has either a great deal of concentration, some prior experience with the subject under discussion, or both. The lack of illustrations is also a barrier to using this as a primary textbook. Mayer's book ("The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques") is written in a much clearer style and covers more modern materials as well as those of the greats. In sum, this is a very good book to have in one's library, but if you are looking for a primary text, use Mayer's instead.
Rating: 2
Summary: Accuracy counts?
Comment: The reality is that I would have rated this book as a three had it not already been over rated. As an introduction into the techniques of old masters materials the book may serve as a means of basic knowledge. Admit tingly the book has other attributes but nothing so unique that there is a revealing of information that couldn't be found more complete and satisfied some where else.
Writing as a conservator I don't have the book right in front of me so I'll be general. First and foremost the book doesn't come close to rivaling Mayer's book. I say this because Mayer's book on materials and techniques is far more conclusive and also acknowledging different artists approach materials with certain attitudes. This is leading to my biggest complaint with Doerner's book.
Doerner approaches his subject much more subjectively and with out much flexibility. The real problem with this is that the author is suppose to be acting as a historian and instead lays down guild lines that he considers superior for contemporary artist. I discovered particular errors through out the book; an example is a pigment attributed to Rembrandts use that analysis hasn't found. Doerner also dismisses cotton canvass painting as a serious support while it has in fact been a popular support for four to five hundred years and has shown as much empathy and durability for good paint film as linen. In truth theses little fictions creep up here and there through out the whole book.
Mayer's book offers a much more accurate detail of the actual properties of materials and he isn't so subjective. Mayer's book also provides chemical information on pigments and the newest edition tells when each pigment was introduced. Mayer's book also quotes the regional and historical introduction of most other materials and is there for nearly as informative historically as Doerner's book; certainly much more accurate.
However Doerner's book offers its own perspective and a little bit more detail about materials from the perspective of the past. For this reason I have found some use to use the book as an occasional reference.
I recommend this book as part of any library reference and also as a perspective but not as a conclusive authority on the subject. For any one not familiar with Mayer's book on materials it is far more informative and accurate.
Rating: 5
Summary: solid bedrock know-how for the painter
Comment: While most curriculums today in art schools will have the words conception underlined, there is a desparate need for the craft of painting to be taught. If you do not want to wait until craftsmanship comes back in style and are a painter, than you must have this book. If you are learning how to better understand the painters of yesterday; you must have this book. If you are curious as to how painters such as Vermeer etc could accomplish want they did, this book is for you. Though the language is sometimes formal the information is so fascinating and inclusive it makes for great and enjoyable reading; Painter or just admirer.
 |
Title: Methods and Materials of Painting of the Great Schools and Masters by Sir Charles Lock Eastlake ISBN: 0486417263 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 30 March, 2001 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
 |
Title: The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques by Ralph Mayer, Steven Sheehan ISBN: 0670837016 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: May, 1991 List Price(USD): $45.00 |
 |
Title: Formulas for Painters by Bernard Stanford Massey, Robert Massey ISBN: 0823018776 Publisher: Watson-Guptill Pubns Pub. Date: December, 1988 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
 |
Title: Oil Painting Techniques by Harold Speed ISBN: 0486255069 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 December, 1987 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
 |
Title: Problem Solving for Oil Painters by Gregg Kreutz ISBN: 0823040976 Publisher: Watson-Guptill Pubns Pub. Date: April, 1997 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
