A propos de l'auteur
Gita May is professor of French literature at Columbia University.
Œuvres de Gita May
Oeuvres associées
Étiqueté
Partage des connaissances
- Nom canonique
- May, Gita
- Date de naissance
- 1929-09-16
- Sexe
- female
- Lieux de résidence
- Brussels, Belgium (birth)
New York, New York, USA - Études
- Columbia University (PhD|1957)
- Professions
- Professor Emerita of French (Columbia University)
- Organisations
- Société française d'études du 18e siècle
Société Diderot
North American Society for the Study of Rousseau
Membres
Critiques
Statistiques
- Œuvres
- 6
- Aussi par
- 1
- Membres
- 65
- Popularité
- #261,994
- Évaluation
- 3.8
- Critiques
- 1
- ISBN
- 5
- Langues
- 1
May is quite aware that Vigee Le Brun, who became official painter to Queen Marie-Antoinette, might be considered politically incorrect, being rather conservative, lacking social awareness for the plight of the poor, and a Royalist with regard to the French revolution. I thought she handled this well, signalling her understanding that this might distress some readers and critics, while accepting her subject as she was. Unlike some writers, she keeps artistic talent, personal qualities and political thinking separate, without neglecting any of the three.
The book is gorgeously illustrated. There are sixteen color plates, plus a number of black and white reproductions scattered throughout the text. Of course, there are never enough illustrations. In reading about artists, I would like to see examples of the work of close associates, in this case Vigee Le Brun's father and mentors. Of course, I want this without having to give up any reproductions of the main subject's work. One can dream.
I was originally going to give this fewer stars because of the problems listed below. However, outside of being bewildered at a few points, I really enjoyed the book and I'm glad that I read it. I leave the reader to decide how much bad editing bothers them. I urge the Yale University Press to correct any other editions.
I believe that this is the most badly edited book I have ever read. Among less serious flaws, an allegorical painting entitled 'Peace Bring Back Abundance' is described as, "the figure of peace gently guiding and protecting peace." I believe that should be "protecting abundance." Further, it is frequently repetitive; e.g., the sad end to the life of Lady Hamilton is described twice (pp. 97 and 173.) More seriously, it is sometimes repetitive and self-contradictory. Plate 2 is a reproduction of a Vigee Le Brun portrait of a man in a yellow vest, identified as Hubert Robert. On page 16, this painting is described in detail and identified as "Joseph Vernet ... (plate 3)" and on p. 62, described again and identified as Robert. This is particularly pathetic for a university press.
The notes are nicely done and, one of my pet causes, the running titles is used to identify the sections of notes, making them easier to match up. There are some explanatory notes included with the bibilographic information. There is a fairly good index, although only one of the above noted accounts of Lady Hamilton's death is listed in her entry under "death". The other is included under "in London"; she actually died in Calais. There is not a bibliography as such, but May points to other monographs on the artist such as Mary Sheriff's "highly theoretical and ideological interpretation" Exceptional Woman; and Angelica Goodden's "more straightforward narrative" The Sweetness of Life. I very much appreciate that she explains the difference in approach between the two. (Introduction, note 7, p. 205)… (plus d'informations)