From Library Journal
The great Spanish painter Francisco Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) always portrayed his female subjects with emotional depth whether they were the witches of his infamously dark era of painting or the strikingly powerful creatures of the courts and salons of late 18th- and early 19th-century Madrid. Edited by Tomlinson, director of Arts at the Academy at the National Academy of Sciences, this well-produced volume of 180 images is divided into two sections. The first offers thematic essays by art authorities discussing the historical and cultural context of Goya's works featuring recognizable models, such as that aristocrat with attitude, the Duchess de Alba. Among the most fascinating essays is Aileen Ribeiro's "Fashioning the Feminine: Dress in Goya's Portraits of Women," which explores the political symbols in dress and fashion during the period. Ribeiro sheds light on numerous accentuating props in Goya's portraits, including the mantilla (a shawl covering both head and shoulders). The latter half of the book, which also includes Goya's tapestries, cartoons, drawings, and prints, serves as a catalog for the eponymous exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington this spring. While not as extensive and analytical as Fred Licht's recent coverage of the artist's entire oeuvre in Goya, this book allows us to study women's roles during the era. Highly recommended for all libraries looking for complete coverage of Goya. Adriana Lopez, "Criticas"
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Booklist
Women have such a significant presence in Goya's life and work. Tomlinson and her international cast of contributors easily filled this substantial, lustrous, and unprecedented treatise with his striking portraits of women and in-depth discussions of various aspects of his fascination. Five essays combine fluent biographical accounts with shrewd aesthetic analysis to reveal not only what women meant to Goya but also how Goya's unique portraits fit into the continuum of portraiture and how they reflect the nature of women's lives during these violent and tumultuous times. The finely reproduced and mesmerizing catalogue presents commissioned works such as tapestry cartoons and official portraits, as well as Goya's probing personal creations, which run the gamut from sensual to nightmarish. Tomlinson's meticulous book succeeds in its mission: it awakens a new sense of awe for Goya's virtuosity and humanity. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
