Customer Reviews (2)

Fantastic book
I am a huge fan of Mary Cassatt as well as the Impressionist. This book as beautiful illustrations and very easy to read and easy to understand explanations about the paintings. I first checked this out at the library and enjoyed it so much, purchased it through an Amazon reseller for my personal enjoyment.

Eye of the Independent
She called herself one of the Independents. The world remembers her as the Impressionist who painted "The Boating Party," the choice for a first-class U.S. postage stamp and one of the most widely reproduced paintings. She was behind America's first purchase of Impressionist art:a Degas painting. In fact, friend and mentor Edgar Degas advised her on the farther window light and floor for "Little Girl in an Armchair" and praised "Girl Arranging her Hair," the Japanese woodblock print inspired "Bath," and "Mother and Boy."

The book's first plate, "The Bacchante," lets viewers know what MARY CASSATT: PAINTINGS AND PRINTS were all about:women communicating with others and hinting at states of mind behind beautifully lighted and shaded fabrics, such as "Woman with a Red Zinnia"; flesh, such as the swiftly scribbled modeling to "Mother, Young Daughter and Son"; and furnishings, such as the Opera House banquette and chandelier ovals taking up the ovals from the figure and reflected figure of her sister "Lydia Leaning on her Arms, Seated in a Loge." Art critic and historian Frank Getlein backs his well-written text with 72 well-chosen plates. His book and Griselda Pollock's MARY CASSATT: PAINTER OF MODERN WOMEN give the perfect examples for Michel Melot's THE IMPRESSIONIST PRINT, Paul Smith's IMPRESSIONISM, Gary Tinterow's ORIGINS OF IMPRESSIONISM, and Helene Barbara Weinberg et al's AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM AND REALISM. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the few women Impressionists, Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) had a life of paradoxes: American born, she lived and worked in France; a classically trained artist, she preferred the company of radicals; never married, she painted exquisite and beloved portraits of mothers and children. This book provides new insight into the personal life and artistic endeavors of this extraordinary woman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Definitive Biography of Mary Cassatt
I have an affinity for the only American Impressionist--Mary Cassatt--who was fiercely independent and talented. I have many books on the Impressionists and this is the definitive biography of Cassatt, a great resource on the artist and her family.

Not exactly what I expected
I was expecting a book with color photos of the paintings; unfortunately the photos were black and white. I skimmed over some of the pages and thought the text to be boring.The book was second-hand (very good condition) and was not an expensive book ($3.00 and change).

Getting to know Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt is a true American treasure. This is an enjoyable, and thoroughly researched biography about her. It is not only well-written, but it is full of wonderful and historic photos of Mary, her paintings, her friends, and her family throughout her life.

The Essential Cassatt Resource
Despite Mary Cassatt's continuing resurgence in popularity as an artist since the 1970s, prior to this volume her biographers had missed the boat.As a result, most people who admire Ms. Cassatt's wonderful paintings are filled with inaccurate beliefs about her life and the condition of women artists during her life.If you care enough about her work to want to correct those mistaken beliefs, please do read this volume.You'll also learn even more if you follow that reading by also looking at Cassatt:A Retrospective by the same author, Nancy Mowll Mathews.

Mary Cassatt is an elusive subject for several reasons.She didn't write many letters, often didn't care what others thought of her and wasn't written about by others nearly as often as she deserved.In addition, her role as an iconic woman pioneer in the Impressionist movement has caused many to "interpret" her life to explain other agendas.

The reality is much more interesting than the misinformation.At a young age, she was exposed to the leading cultural events in Europe . . . a rarity for any American.Her mother was probably one of the most intelligent and capable women of her generation anywhere.The family moved around constantly in rented homes to stay close to the various children and business opportunities.Only after her father's death was Ms. Cassatt able to purchase and enjoy a home.Contrary to popular belief today, it wasn't at all unusual for women to pursue painting careers.In fact, the Louvre was full of American women painting copies of the masterpieces there.What was unusual was for a woman to be viewed as the peer of the best male artists.Ms. Cassatt clearly reached that pinnacle during her Impressionist years and beyond.Much to her own disgust, she let herself be led into painting the mother and child paintings that we all love so much by the marketing plans of her gallery . . . rather than her own passion. Although profitable, this path was in her view a diversion from her better work.Paradoxically, Ms. Cassatt's two bothers were even more famous in their day than she was . . . even though we have barely heard of them today.Her older brother was, in fact, one of the most important railroad developers in the eastern United States.As head of the Pennsylvania Railroad, he directed the development of the railroad tunnel into Manhattan.

Ms. Mathews does a nice job of balancing what is known from what is not . . . while pointing out what the possibilities were.As a result of this biography, I felt I knew the real Mary Cassatt for the first time.

Bravo, Ms. Mathews!

Thorough, well researched study of the artist Mary Cassatt.
Ms. Mathews presents Mary Cassatt's entire life and incorporates little known details about her travels and associations with friends and family.She mixes facts, anecdotes and reflections on society in such an easily readable way that even her suppositions could be viewed as gospel truth.The (hardcover) book is well illustrated with historical photographs and black and white illustrations of Cassatt's and her contemporaries' work.The author makes numerous points regarding what motivated and inspired the artist at different periods in her life.She gives very specific illustrations of how difficult life could be for a woman of Cassatt's time.Additionally, the author admits Mary Cassatt's opinions and outspokenness often got her in trouble with friends.Those friendships she was able to maintain were based on a mutual, professional respect. Included is a chapter about the artist's work in an historical context.Her work was viewed differently by critics, and herself, at different times.Nancy Mowell Mathews book gives so much life to the artist's character, I wouldn't be surprised if it's made into a movie!It is certainly motivation for any working woman. ... Read more

Product Description
Examines the life and work of the strong-willed American woman who studied in Paris and became a noted contributor to the Impressionist movement. ... Read more

Product Description
Mary Cassatt is most famous for her paintings of mothers and babies, and that's what first attracts "Claire" because she has a new baby sister. But through research for her class report Claire learns many surprising facts about Mary: she was an American who lived in France nearly all her life, she never married or had children herself, and she became a professional artist at a time when respectable ladies simply did not do that! With beautiful reproductions of Mary Cassatt's best-loved paintings as well as lively childlike pictures that illustrate her life, this Smart About Art book gives children a wonderful "portrait" of a great artist and fascinating woman.

Illustrated by Jennifer Kalis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Terrific Children's Book about Mary Cassatt!
This is a wonderful book about Mary Cassatt.It is done from the perspective of a child who admires Mary Cassatt paintings and is in the process of learning more about her.She even copies some of her paintings in photography and drawings.Very sweet and helpful in motivating a child about painting or learning more about painters.They no longer have to fear being a nerd, learning about painting is cool!

Charming introduction to Mary Cassatt
I thought this book was really charming and that its combination of prints by Mary Cassatt and the line drawings of the child who is telling the story made this very appealing to me. But I am an adult and don't know how a child would react to this. Perhaps I can field test it on a great-niece. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides an entertaining and humor ous introduction to the famous artist, Mary Cassatt. It incl udes excellent colour reproductions of the artist''s work. ' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Brilliant Series!
This series by Mike Venezia is BRILLIANT!! I love the way he writes - so easy to read. He includes pertinent information, lots of the artist's drawings, and cartoons that make the material fun. The books are read alones for 3rd grade+ but my 4 year old enjoys heraing me read these books. What a fantastic way to introduce artists to young kids when they are still so interested and unbiased! I as an adult learned things too. We own various from this wonderful series!!

What a Wonderful Book for Children
Mary Cassatt was a true master when painting mothers and their children.Mike Venezia's book captures her life and work beautifully.This series on artists is so educational, I have bought the entire series for my brother's children.I first saw them in the gift shop of the Virginia Museum and have enjoyed them ever since.

Cassatt's paint'g leaves the young with a warm tummy feeling
"... she seemed to understand the love between mothers and their babies better than any other artist", p. 26.

The young reader will learn about Cassatt's early years in Pennsylvania, her family moving to Francefor two years when she was 7, her years at the Pennsylvania Academy of FineArts, and her moving to France at the age of 22 to learn more about art.

Cassatt's paintings have a current day presence to them.Regardless ofhow far we as a society progress, most children will be lovingly cared forby their parents.She captured the mothers and fathers in a relaxed statewith their children going about their every day activities.Children willreadily relate to the paintings given their own very recent experiences. The young are very sensitive to feelings.The warmth expressed in thepaintings will easily be absorbed by their delicate nature. They willcome away from the book with a warm tummy feeling.

My favorite paintingin the book is Cassatt's "Little Girl in a Blue Armchair,"painted in 1878.It remains contemporary.It could be any one of mynieces or even myself.When I was young, my mother used to make me dressup for family functions to which I agreed if I could bring my play clotheswith me.This picture reminds me of what I must have looked like until Icould change into my play clothes.

Venezia's illustrations are humorous. His narrative is delightfully entertaining.His approach brings theartist within reach of the young.His re-enactment of why Mary joined theimpressionist group pokes fun at the upheaval they caused.

The size ofthe book is perfect for smaller hands.It enables the young to have artwithin their grasp.Venezia gives the locations of the paintings and asresult if the child lives near one of the museums or will be near one onvacation, she/he would be able to see the original.

This is the 6th inVenezia's "Getting to know the World's Greatest Artist" series.He also has a similar series on composers.Venezia's back coverillustration ties back to the subject."Working on Mary Cassattinspired Mike to paint his own family's portraits, capturing...".

The price of the book is well worth paying.The book contains thefollowing:Cassatt's paintings (17) and print (1),Venezia'sillustrations - 7, Others' paintings - 4. ... Read more

Product Description
A children's biography of the beloved Impressionist, illustrated with the artist's own works. Though remembered for her signature pieces of loving moments captured between a mother and child, Mary Cassatt's life was anything but conventional. This book chronologically portrays her lifelong artistic journey from her days as a child living abroad to her earned success as the only female American member of the French Impressionists. Inspiring for all children, but especially appropriate for those with creative impulses, this biography shows how one girl's lifelong dream to become an artist came true due to an independent spirit, determination, and true commitment to her craft. Cassatt's own paintings, 19 of which are included here in full color, demonstrate her various techniques and show how she developed a unique style combining admiration for the old masters with inspiration from the Impressionists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Inspirational and beautiful
I bought this book for an artistic niece and was very pleased with its text and image quality. Mary Cassatt, Impressionist Painter is a very articulate and thoughtful book about a woman who followed her dream to become an artist and supported herself and her family in France and on the Continent.The book is gorgeously illustrated with Cassat's own paintings and the work of Cassat's contemporaries.The author has described the challenges Cassat needed to overcome, as a woman, as an American, and as a painter, and given a detailed account of Cassat's achievements and style as an impressionist. I highly recommend this book if you, or a young friend, have an interest in inspirational women, painters, or impressionists, or if you have an interest in the lifestyle and activities of women during the latter part of the nineteenth century.

A must read for the child artist
Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Painter

Lovely images of Mary's work throughout the book. I believe Mary would have been proud to read about the depiction of difficulties she encountered before the women's movement. Lois Harris also describes the perfection of style and subject matter which has made her art the treasure that it is.

Inspirational
This is a lovely story book for early elementary aged children, with gorgeous pictures that show not only Cassatt's paintings but other paintings that give a feel for the time period in which she lived. Visually very appealing for both adults and children, with an engaging story that tells how Cassatt, against the odds, succeeded, while staying true to her own artistic vision. Perfect for reading out loud to the little ones at home, or for use as part of an early elementary art curriculum. ... Read more

Product Description
Little Suzette and her nursemaid enjoy daily walks in the handsome park near their home. Often, they see a tall, elegant lady strolling in the park with her tiny puppy. Then, a comical incident transforms Suzette and the puppy into friends. The time and place of this gentle story is Paris in the 1870s, when many fine artists were creating the exciting approach to painting called Impressionism. As it happens, little Suzette's Uncle Edgar is one of those artists. He is the famous Edgar Degas. One day, Uncle Edgar sends an artist to paint Suzette's picture. Imagine Suzette's surprise, when the artist turns out to be the tall lady from the park! And imagine Suzette's delight when the little puppy comes with her! The result of this enchanting meeting lives on to this day in an art masterpiece. For the woman was the major American artist, Mary Cassatt. Her painting of Suzette and the little dog, known as "The Little Girl in the Blue Armchair," now hangs in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, D.C. Among this book's many beautiful full-color illustrations is a reproduction of the story's painting. (Ages 4-8) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Charming story about an artist, a little girl, and a dog
Nice book about an event in a little girl's life that introduces the child to Mary Cassatt and "Nipper," the dog. ... Read more

Product Description
Born into the male dominated world of the nineteenth century, middle-class Pennsylvania society, Mary Cassatt became a feminist and turned what was a lady’s accomplishment into a profession becoming a radical painter, working in Paris and exhibiting with the Impressionists. Degas, Manet, Gauguin and Pissaro, amongst others, knew and admired her work, and yet, since her death in 1926, Cassatt has received little critical acclaim, and her importance, both personally as an individual artist and historically within the evolution of the Impressionist movement, has largely been obscured. The efforts of the feminist movement in the last decade, however, have stimulated long-deserved public and critical interest in Mary Cassatt.Griselda Pollock examines the reasons for the unjust neglect of one of America’s outstanding artistic talents. She gauges the wide variety of influences which shaped her career, from her commitment to her early oils and pastels and her study of the techniques of the Old Masters, her exploration of modernist ideas to her later interest in the methods of Japanese print-making. Despite the tremendous diversity of her sources, Cassatt pursued one theme - the depiction of women in all phases of their lives - defending the portrayal of maternity and womanhood from the charges of sentimentality. Pollock argues that through her oeuvre, Cassatt, a woman painting women, reworked with increasing power and insight the traditional iconography of woman as Madonna, as Venus and as Eve, questioning its basic assumptions and transforming women from objects to be looked at to people to be understood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Showing Mary Cassatt's differing styles
The book I received had a different cover, but I ordered the book in "very good condition."
It must be an earlier print run of the same book, same author, same publisher.
The size of art and layout of each painting is good.
The author's comments were interesting and helpful in viewing Cassatt's art.
It is easy to see the other impressionist's influence on Cassatt and her art.

A collection of the work of a trailblazing female artist
Mary Cassatt was truly a pioneer in the art world, paving the way for women to branch out beyond the "female domain." Her art career began in 1872, when her first painting was exhibited in Paris. During her career, she was deeply appreciated in France, but largely ignored in her native United States, even though she received her artist's training in Philadelphia.
This book is a collection of her work and if they knew nothing about the artist, most people would be able to determine that the artist was female. Most of the scenes in the book depict a woman doing something typical of women in the nineteenth century. Women are holding children, giving them baths; children are posing for portraits or women attending social events. In the rare occasions that men appear, they are doing "men work" and are extraneous to the action.
One of the true trailblazers of the women's movement, Cassatt herself never realized the significance of her achievements. Shortly before her death in 1926, she was quoted as saying, "After all, a woman's vocation in life is to bear children." However, despite her thoughts she did break an enormous amount of new ground in the changing role of women. By demonstrating that women could create quality art, she helped make it possible for women to gain opportunities in all walks of life. This book is a sound tribute to that fact.
... Read more

Product Description
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) holds a unique place in the historyof art. One of the few women artists to succeed professionally in her era,she was the only American invited to exhibit with the FrenchImpressionists. This handsome volume, richly illustrated with paintings,prints, and pastels spanning Cassatt's entire career, accompanies a majortraveling exhibition that opens at The Art Institute of Chicago in October1998.

Essays trace Cassatt's development from her early influences through hercritical role in bringing Old Master and Impressionist art to the UnitedStates. The superb colorplates clearly demonstrate why Cassatt isconsidered one of North America's most important artists.

Supplementary works by Cassatt's contemporaries are reproduced along withnumerous photographs and the first complete list of exhibitions in whichCassatt participated in her lifetime. The exhibition travels to the Museumof Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Judith A. Barter is Field-McCormick Curator of American Arts at The ArtInstitute of Chicago.

George T. M. Shackelford is curator of European paintings, and Erica E. Hirshler is associate curator in the Department of American Arts at theMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston. Kevin Sharp and Andrew Walker work in theDepartment of American Arts at The Art Institute of Chicago.Amazon.com Review
Mary Cassatt: Modern Woman is the extensive,beautifully produced, coffee-table-size catalog of an exhibition ofthe same name at the Art Institute of Chicago in the fall of 1998. Itis filled with 100 color plates and scores of other pictures,including Cassatt family snapshots, images of works by Cassatt'steachers and influential associates, postcards, and other relatedpersonal and historical items. Included too are six essays, on topicsranging from Cassatt's "modern education" to her intelligent guidanceof the wealthy American art-lovers who later bequeathed theirimpressive impressionist collections to several major United Statesmuseums. While each has much to offer, Kevin Sharp's essay "How MaryCassatt Became an American Artist" is particularly interesting and hasgreat narrative flair. The sections on Cassatt's alternatelyinfuriating and gratifying relationship with the legendary Parisdealer Paul Durand-Ruel are page-turners.

Readers who are mostly lookers, and who intend to spend their timewith the large color plates, will also be amply rewarded. These dofull justice to Cassatt's draftsmanship, color, and design, whilereaffirming her as the warmly empathetic, but thoroughlyunsentimental, observer of young mothers and their plump, belovedbabies. The book has but one tiny defect, which will irritate only themost casual readers: its captions for the most part give onlyminimally identifying information for the people, paintings, andplaces pictured. When the plates and illustrations are not adjacent tothe germane parts of the text, readers must peruse the essays in orderto understand their significance. --Peggy Moorman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

INFO...
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was one of the few women artists to have succeeded professionally in her era, and the only American invited to exhibit with the French Impressionists. Extensively illustrated with paintings, prints and pastels spanning Cassatt's whole career, this volume, published to accompany a travelling exhibition in the USA, contains essays which trace the artist's development from her early influences to her critical role in bringing Old Master and Impressionist art to the United States. Supplementary works by Cassatt's contemporaries are reproduced, together with numerous photographs and a complete list of exhibitions in which she participated in her lifetime.

Great book for the price
Cassatt was no Sargent or Hassam, but her style reflects sensitivity and charm. This is a great book to own about Cassatt, full of good plates and at a bargain price. You can't go wrong with this one!

So close . . .
I'm a semester into a fine arts degree and desperatly searching for a TRUE female role model in the painterly art.

Sigh - - - Mary Cassatt ain't it.

Sadly, I believe that, Mary Cassatt's only claim to LASTING aesthetic fame is that she is American and FEMALE:not that she had anything unique or new (in her time) to say in her paintings.

beautifully presented, somewhat interesting
A collection of interesting essays (and representations of her works) onthe artist and her life give the reader good, broad and varied sense aboutwho Mary Cassatt was and how important she was in helping America todiscover impressionism. MC is an artist that merits to be better recognizedand this book serves a good purpose. - Yet for people that have alreadystudied MC and want to learn more on detailed aspects of her art, this bookwill probably not be sufficient - Griselda Pollock has written a book ifound very useful called 'mary cassatt painter of modern women' which hassome well-founded arguments about her works and intentions and is veryinteresting and more original than this collection of well presented andnevertheless good essays. ... Read more

Product Description
Beautifully printed collection displays noted American artist’s bold realism and fresh, original style. Reproductions of her finest paintings include Mother Combing Her Child’s Hair, Mother’s Kiss, Reine Lefebvre Holding a Nude Baby, Little Girl in a Blue Armchair and others. Notes on each exquisite work of art.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautiful Women and Children!
Mary Cassatt's genius and vibrant style is represented wonderfully in this quality book of glossy cards. Mothers, grandmothers, and women who appreciate Mary Cassatt's special painted world of women and children, should enjoy this as a gift, or just a card with a friendly or loving note from time to time. What an affordable way to get a great array of Mary Cassatt paintings!
Kerri Bennett Williamson, Author
... Read more

Product Description
This groundbreaking new study redefines Mary Cassatt's status in the Parisian avant-garde and in American art, placing her work in the wider context of nineteenth-century feminism and art theory. Admired by Degas--who invited her to exhibit with the Impressionists in 1877--Cassatt brought a New Women's perspective to the theater, drawing room, garden, and studio. Griselda Pollock emphasizes Cassatt's study of Old Masters and interest in Manet's work, and stresses her great influence on the creation of American collections of French modernism. She argues that Cassatt's experimentation with etching and pastels from the late 1880s enabled her to represent women and children without sentiment, but with a deepening awareness of a complex psychological charge. Professor of Social and Critical Histories of Art at the University of Leeds, Griselda Pollock's many books include Old Mistresses: Women, Art, and Ideology (with Roszika Parker).Amazon.com Review
The American painter Mary Cassatt, who rubbed elbows with theimpressionists over a century ago, looks ready for a boom, with a bigtraveling exhibition of her work touring the Chicago Art Institute,the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and Boston's Museum of FineArts in 1998-1999. It would be difficult to find a more intelligentintroductory guide than this one by feminist art critic GriseldaPollock, who teaches social and critical histories at the Universityof Leeds, England. Pollock's most familiar previous book is OldMistresses: Women, Art, and Ideology, and she scotches thewidespread idea of Mary Cassatt as a soft and wimpy painter of babies,similar to Auguste Renoir, who is also victimized by critics today forhis soft female images. Instead, Pollock sees Cassatt as the"painter of modern women" who was unafraid of such toughartistic influences as Degas, Courbet, and Manet. In this clearlywritten guide, Cassatt's courage shines through, but also hervariety. Readers may begin to look at the women and children in thepaintings and discern new expressions in their faces, not just thesweet sentiment that has usually been interpreted therein. This is arevelatory book to accompany what looks likely to be a revelatoryexhibit. --Benjamin Ivry ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Long winded
A tough read.Way too many details and she is all over the place.I bought tghis book as a required text for a class and I would not recommend it again.

An absolute gorgeous outline of the mind of Mary Cassatt
I am a teen in a class called E.L.P. (Expanded Learning Program) and we were asked to deeply research an eminent person.I am an adorer of Edgar Degas and I knew of the relationship he had with Mary Cassatt.This turnedme to do the research on her.I bought this book at the Chicago ArtInstitue when I toured her work.This gives a great description of thewonderful women behind this artwork that she creates.I believe she shouldbe more emphisized when people think of art.This book really explains whoshe is.It is a must read! ... Read more

Book Description
Presenting concise overviews of artists and movements that are uniquely American, these volumes distill the essence of their subjects with authoritative texts and lavish illustrations.

Here is the story of a determined young American woman who so fulfilled her childhood dreams that her colorful paintings and prints rank with the work of Degas, Monet, and Renoir. ... Read more

Product Description
(Original line drawings by Marty Noble). Color 30 black-and-white illustrations of masterpieces by great American Impressionist, noted for her paintings of mothers and their children. Works include The Bath, Young Mother Sewing, Mother’s Kiss, Maternal Caress, more. 30 color illustrations on covers.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Coloring your own masterpieces with colored pencils
You can have so much fun re-creating the exact look of famous paintings or adding your own flare with using different vibrant colors.
Either way you won't be disappointed.

What a great idea~Dover has done it again.
It is so much fun to try and reproduce these great masterpieces youself. They give you the full color pictures inside the front cover so you can try to make it like the originals. I do that sometimes but I like to be creative also and just do whatever colors I feel like.

I highly recommend the entire Dover line of Adult coloring books. They are best with Primsacolor regular and Verithin colored pencils. They shade and blend very well. I still have some from childhood in the 1960"s short by now but still work just fine. I add to them as the years go by.

I've been colecting these Dover books for about 30 years now and highly recommend them. Amazon has the best collection on earth and the 4 for 3 deals cannot be beat.
... Read more

Product Description
Readers will be transported to the vibrant art scene of late nineteenth-century Paris in this richly textured portrait of the relationship between Mary Cassatt and her sister Lydia.

Beginning in the autumn of 1878, Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper dreams its way into the intimate world of Cassatt's older sibling. Told in the reflective, lyrical voice of Lydia, who is dying of Bright's disease, the novel opens a window onto the extraordinary age in which these sisters lived, painting its sweeping narrative canvas with fascinating real-life figures that include Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas, Cassatt's brilliant, subversive mentor.

Featuring five full-color plates of Cassatt's paintings, this is a moving and illuminating exploration of the illusive nature of art and desire, memory and mortality, romantic and familial love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Mary Cassatt is rolling in her grave...
Chessman does not do women any favors in her erroneous portrayal of Mary Cassatt and Degas.Cassatt was entirely modern by proving that a woman could have a career and be happily single.

Seeing Cassatt New
In her beautifully written novel, Harriet Chessman takes us through the scene of artistic creation as Lydia Cassatt models for five of her sister's most impressive paintings. We see the compositions from the perspective of the model, who, even as she is suffering from a debilitating illness, becomes empowered by feeling herself a partner in the paintings' birth.The novel presents an extraordinarily deft and poignant view into the relationship between the sisters at the same time that it offers the reader a new way of viewing Cassatt's art.It will be impossible to look at Cassatt's paintings in the same way again.In a novel about artistic creation, it is especially wonderful to read Chessman's finely crafted prose.It is both lean and lush.A wonderful novel.

Read this in this leisure
This delicious read can only be done beside a fireplace, on a divan, in a cabin, in a hotel before a museum excursion, and certainly after all things have done and you are ready to rich a word show, of colors, quiet feelings, and can withstand the privacy of reading. Be prepared for studying the five pictures and doing more Cassatt research of her work. The book is very short, but I saved it the text before and after studying not only Cassatt's painting but Degas, Courbet, Millet, and of course Renoir. This highly visual reading should be preserved for a very special occasion. Before you read, preparepot of jasmine tea and drop in five blueberries for the paintings.

Delightful read
I wasn't familiar with Harriet Scott Chessman until I won an autographed copy of Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper and now I find myself wondering why.In a word, this book is delightful.The writing is artistic and the photos of Mary Cassatt's paintings that are featured are stunning.This book is a fictional account of the relationship between the American Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt and her sister Lydia.It is set in France in the late 1800's and focuses on five paintings Mary did of Lydia during that time.Mary and Lydia had an incredibly close bond that only sister's can share.Lydia was Mary's favorite model and sometimes struggled to pose because she was battling Bright's disease, which eventually took her life.

This book is helps you imagine what it was like in Paris in the late 1800's.I felt like I knew the Cassatts by the time I was through.It is a wonderful story of family, love, strength and endurance.I will definitely be looking for more of Harriet's work.

didn't live up to my expectations
Eh.

I really hate it when I get excited over a book and then it bores me senseless.That's what this one did.Bummer.

Usually, when I write a review, I say something along the lines of "it was well written but.." and usually, what I mean by that is "I didn't really like it much, but I understand what the author was trying to do.." or something to that affect.

In the case of this book, I understand that the author was writing a fictional work about the Impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt.Now, either Mary Cassatt was the most boring person in the history of existance or this author just doesn't posess the knack for storytelling.

To me, the book was not only boring, but unfocused and abrupt.It details the process of five paintings; and devles into the relationship between Mary and her model; her sister Lydia, who is very ill and dying.While the book does touch upon their relationship, it doesn't go deep enough..there are other characters that are introduced who soon disappear leaving the reader wondering "so who is this?how do they know him?oh wait, it doesn't matter, because now he's gone from the story."A total feeling of dissatisfaction.

Generally, I like the historical art fiction novels.Not so much this one.I've said it before, but if you're looking for something in this genre, pick up something by Tracy Chevalier or Susan Vreeland..they're wonderful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must for Cassatt lovers!
This gorgeous oversize hardback book contains over 50 color pictures of her artwork.I wish I had bought 2 books so I could have cut out my favorites to frame myself.I bought mine in Charlotte, NC for $5!What a steal, what a treasure! You will enjoy this great coffee table book! ... Read more

Product Description
Long knownfor her endearing renderings of maternal imagery and for her exploration of the theme of 'modern woman', Mary Cassatt has not been properly recognised for her pioneering role in the Impressionist movement or for her often extensive experimentation in new artistic theories or mediums. This book reveals, for the first time, a large and previously unknown group of pastel counterproofs by Cassatt. These counterproofs, which are literally mirror images of her pastels, produced by taking an impression of that original on a second sheet of paper, were a novel enterprise. This book, produced in conjunction with an exhibition at Adelson Galleries in New York, includes plates of all fifty counterproofs in full colour as well as additional colour and black and white illustrations of related works and other material pertaining to Cassatt's career. Several essays explore this rarely studied medium and its place within a fruitful period of experimentation in pastel and colour printmaking among the art ... Read more