PENGUIN Matisse: The Life

I have never been much of a fan of the biographies of artists-many seem either too superficial and gossipy on the one hand or too focussed on the artworks themselves at the expense of the creator behind them on the other. This splendid book avoids these pitfalls and Hilary Spurling presents the life and work of Matisse as a convincing whole, with life and art interdependent on each other. Spurling has clearly done an enormous amount of primary research and her text has great authority as a result, but her greatest achievement is to condense all of this knowledge into a 550 page account which is coherent, hugely readable and at times even exciting. Spurling is especially good at establishing the importance of Matisse's early years in Northern France and the complex family relationships which affected both his work and outlook on life. What is also striking is how much of a struggle it was for Matisse to create his memorable images and to win critical acceptance for them. There were to be a great many highs and lows in his long career and the sense that most people failed to understand what he was trying to do never left him. Anyone who wishes to embark on that voyage of understanding will find this book invaluable, peppered with valuable insights into the importance of certain locations to Matisse, his intense working methods and the enormous importance of his relationships with his models in shaping the direction of his art.The book is never dull and brilliantly traces the evolution of one of art's great innovators, making one hungry to look at his work again, which brings me to the one big drawback with this edition: there are far too few illustrations. It is very frustrating to reading the author's perceptive comments on a work only to find no picture to accompany them. Nonetheless, this is a tremendous read which deserves all the plaudits it has received. I think most readers will find this condensed version more than adequate, but the longer 2 volume edition is there for the specialist. For art enthusiasts this is a must,but I recommend this book to those who don't usually read such biographies.

For lovers of Matisse's art, this book provides a remarkable picture of how his art developed over his lifetime and of the human and landscape influences on his work. It is also a joy to read, well explained, and fills a much-needed gap for those not willing to plough through the 1000-plus pages of the 2 volume biography. Highly recommended, and not just for the serious student, but for anyone intrigued by the huge variety of Matisse's work: this book gives a readable account of the artist's background, family life, friends and relations with other artists, plus the huge influence of his move from the North to the South of France along with visits to North Africa.

Amazingly good value and speedy delivery

Saw this at a much higher price at Tate Modern Matisse a Exhibition. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. Good value!

This is a wonderful book, giving detailed insight into Matisse's life and work. And an enjoyable read too. Would recommend it.