The Last Dandy, Ralph Barton

1991 University of Missouri. 4to., 270pp., illustrations, hardcover. Fine in Fine DJ,

The heightened awareness of the art of illustration has led to a reappraisal of artists once considered, as a whole, less than their "academic" counterparts. Barton belonged to a chic circle of artists, writers, and actors that included Thomas Hart Benton, Carl Van Vechten, Anita Loos, and Charlie Chaplin, and much of this "kiss-and-tell" biography centers on his tumultuous life outside the studio. The career of this brilliant but troubled sophisticate, who contributed illustrations in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles to such magazines as The New Yorker , Vanity Fair , and Puck , has not been examined seriously until now, due in part to a paucity of personal papers and original art. From an art historical perspective, this biography is wanting, as a number of drawings discussed in detail are not illustrated. The result is less than satisfying. Is this due to the nature of the subject, the lack of primary resources, or the author's treatment? Probably a combination of all three factors.
- Kathleen Eagen Johnson, Historic Hudson Valley, Tarrytown, N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.