The Private Lives Of The Impressionists

A definitive book about the Impressionists and their time. Forget about tedious description of paintings and techniques as if there wasn't a human being behind them. This book is about the personal lives of the artists, their romantic and domestic troubles, their economic struggles, their debts, the way they acted when the Franco/Prussian of 1870 war started ... And how through all this they kept painting and drawing on like possessed. A book to really understand why these artists did what they did and why they became 'Impressionists' and why they did put up with Manet when he rejected being part of that movement. A great book. I would recommend to purchase the hardcover edition as the papaerback one has a very small letter size.

This reads like fiction, packed with facinating information without stodgy over writen facts.Yet another great read by Sue Roe.

I really felt this book helped me feel part of this extraordinary moment when so many great artists met. Their families and constant fight to make ends meet. Inspite of having little to eat nothing stpooed them painting! The galleries who fell over backwards to help. The big question is why did nobody see how brilliant they were until much later????

You have to have an understanding of the lives of the artists and their milieu to appreciate their endeavour and overall achievements. Check out their patron and mentor and agent, Paul Durand-Ruel.

An interesting little book full of lesser known or even unknown facts about the Impressionists. Unfortunately the type face is so small you need excellent sight or strong reading glasses to enjoy it!