Poussin, The Early Years in Rome: The Origins of French Classicism

Looks at the French artist's early development, assesses his influence on European art, and looks at examples of paintings and sketches

Father of classical French painting Nicholas Poussin went to Rome as a 30-year-old struggling artist in 1624. The years he spent there yielded an amazing variety of works, from naturalistic tree studies to sweet, Raphael-esque oils and monumental dramas bursting with the emotions of figures from myth and history. Bringing to light a feast of splendors, this volume by the director of the Albertina in Vienna shatters our preconceived notions of Poussin's art. With easy grace, Poussin captured the mobility of water, the play of light and shadow, as well as the impishness of cherubs reaching for butterflies. In Rome he discovered the rules of perspective, then broke them as he saw fit. His fiery Self-Portrait in red chalk marks a turning point, when Poussin realized that his destiny was not to be a grand decorator for princes or for the Church. This erudite, groundbreaking study accompanies an exhibition at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Tex.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Kimbell Art Museum, this book focuses on Poussin's all-important formative years, from 1624 to 1630, spent in Rome. Through detailed stylistic analysis, Oberhuber shows how Poussin absorbed the styles of Italian masters, both classic and contemporary, step by step transforming their lessons into his own style, which stands today as the epitome of French classicism. Great emphasis is placed on the drawings and sketches, which show his development even more clearly than the paintings. A scholarly text that demands a knowledgeable reader. Lynell A. Morr, John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Lib., Sarasota, Fla.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.