John White Alexander : an American artist in the Gilded Age / Mary Anne Goley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Goley, Mary Anne, author.

Contributor:

Alexander, John White, 1856-1915.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Alexander, John White, 1856-1915--Criticism and interpretation.

Alexander, John White.

Alexander, John White, 1856-1915.

Painting, American--20th century.

Painting, American.

Painting--United States--20th century--Biography.

Painting.

Criticism and interpretation.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies.

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xvi, 256 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 28 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Philip Wilson Publishers, [2018]

Summary:

At the time of his death, the Pittsburgh-born John White Alexander (1856-1915) was an internationally recognized portrait painter, on a part with his contemporaries John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase. However the works that have earned him even greater acclaim than his portraits are his figure paintings of femmes fatales, usually richly attired in flowing dresses and striking elaborate poses. Alexander had been much in demand as a portraitist, both of men and children as well as women, but his real talent, which became evident relatively late in his career, lay in his ability to capture the essence of the female form. This talent blossomed after he encountered Juliette Very, the Parisian model who became his muse. Inspired by Juliette, his paintings are imbued with sentiment expressed through movement and gesture, and it was the portrayal of his models in this way that brought him fame. He also borrowed from the post-impressionist group of painters, the Nabis' use of bold abstract forms and flowing lines, and from James McNeil Whistler's muted coloration, to create his own unique style.

Contents:

A huckleberry original

New friends, new patrons, a new wife

The first sojourn in Paris

Paris-New York-Paris-New York

A much anticipated return

President of the National Academy of Design and campaigner for good causes

From those who loved him, tributes.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 248-251) and index.

ISBN:

9781781300602

1781300607

OCLC:

987794896