The art of portraiture approached its apex during the sixteenth century in Europe with the discovery of oil painting when the old masters developed and refined techniques that remain unsurpassed to this day. The ascendance of nonrepresentational art in the middle of the twentieth century displaced these venerable skills; especially in academic art circles. Fortunately for aspiring artists today who wish to learn the methods that allowed the Old Masters to achieve the luminous color and subtle tonalities so characteristic of their work; this knowledge has been preserved in hundreds of small traditional painting ateliers that persevered in the old ways in this country and throughout the world.Coming out of this dedicated movement; Portrait Painting Atelier is an essential resource for an art community still recovering from a time when solid instruction in art technique was unavailable in our schools. Of particular value here is a demonstration of the Old Mastersrsquo; technique of layering paint over a toned-ground surface; a process that builds from the transparent dark areas to the more densely painted lights. This method unifies the entire painting; creating a beautiful glow that illuminates skin tones and softly blends all the color tones. Readers will also find valuable instruction in paint mediums from classic oil-based to alkyd-based; the interactive principles of composition and photograph-based composition; and the anatomy of the human face and the key relationships among its features. Richly illustrated with the work of preeminent masters such as Millet; Geacute;ricault; and van Gogh; as well as some of todayrsquo;s leading portrait artistsmdash;and featuring seven detailed step-by-step portrait demonstrationsmdash;Portrait Painting Atelier is the first book in many years to so comprehensively cover the concepts and techniques of traditional portraiture.From the Hardcover edition.
#329583 in eBooks 2011-11-15 2011-11-15File Name: B00A1SM42I
Review
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful. Loved Saving Italy!By KikiI couldnrsquo;t put it down! Saving Italy is a page turner with a compelling narrative that often keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat with suspense. The drawings that Monuments Man Deane Keller sent home to his young son offer a revealing insight into the manrsquo;s mixed emotions about his eagerness to help save the treasures of a country he loved in the midst of war; coupled with the loneliness and isolation he felt being separated from the family he adored. The passion and impulsiveness of Monuments Man Fred Hartt help the thrilling adventure of Saving Italy come alive. Edsel does a great job bringing out the very human side of his complex characters; including a little known Nazi General; Karl Wolff. The book is well-researched with many author interviews noted; but is presented in a way that reads more like an espionage novel. I highly recommend Saving Italy not just to those who love art or WWII History; but to anyone looking for an inspiring story about the human spirit and the sacrifices people make to follow their passion; risking their lives for a cause greater than themselves. Five stars doesnt seem like enough!30 of 30 people found the following review helpful. Amazing Characters; Amazing Story!By JesseThis is an amazing story about a part of WWII history that I was not familiar with. The author did a great job researching and writing this compelling narrative about a "new kind of soldier" empowered to protect rather than destroy. I have read many books about the war but cant remember one that included so many rich details. The characters practically leap off the page. The story is fast-paced; reading more like fiction. As a reader I felt like I was almost part of the adventure. One of the most interesting plots in Saving Italy involves a secret Nazi surrender of Italy in which the art work is held hostage while an SS General negotiates with American spies. I was surprised and riveted by these details. Overall; this is an exciting read and I would highly recommend it. (And I cant wait to see the Clooney movie based on the authors last book; The Monuments Men.)Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nations Treasures from the Nazis22 of 22 people found the following review helpful. Terrific Story; You Will Feel Good After reading It.By H. F. MiglinoWhat an amazing story! My father lived in Italy during WWII and I never spoke with him when he was alive about how it was in Italy during the war. Many cities experienced much destruction; including Naples; Milan; Florence and Monte Cassino. In 1980 I saw DaVincis fresco The Last Supper and there were photos of the destruction of the church where the fresco was. Did not dawn on me that it was allied bombs which blew up the church but the bombing was of the train yards right near the church. Even in a brutal war men realized the importance of these masterpieces; men on both sides of the war. The story that is told is incredible and I am surprised it took this long to get this story out there. I see where a movie is being made on this subject and will be released in December. Interwoven in the story is the German surrender in Italy and how complicated it was; the Germans just could not surrender that easy. Also did not know all the bridges in Florence were blown up by the Germans (rebuilt after the war) except for the Ponte Vecchio (which Hitler loved that bridge). The bombing of the abbey in Monte Cassino; allied forces had no choice but to bomb it. All the men searching for these masterpieces; college professors; museum curators; what a story. Thank you Robert Edsel for writing this story.