Unique perspectives from an acclaimed art historian on the
relationship between drawing and painting
From Drawing to Painting interweaves biographical information about
five renowned French artists--Nicolas Poussin, Antoine Watteau,
Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique
Ingres--with a fascinating look at dozens of their drawings and the
links that they have to their paintings. This richly illustrated book
explores drawing as a site of reflection, the space between the idea of
a painted image and its realization on canvas.
How, why, and for whom did these artists draw? What value did they place
on their drawings? How did their drawings get handed down to us? In what
way do they enable us better to understand the artists' intentions,
their creative processes, and to penetrate their worlds? Pierre
Rosenberg determines that each artist approached drawing in a
distinctive way, reflecting his individual training, work habits, and
personal ambitions. For example, Poussin viewed his drawings simply as
working documents, Watteau preferred his drawings to his paintings, and
Fragonard made a lucrative business selling his graphic work. For David
and Ingres, drawing had a considerable pedagogical function, whether in
copying the great works of their predecessors or in sharpening their own
techniques.
From Drawing to Painting Offers an unprecedented view of the artistic
process, and makes an important and beautiful addition to any art
library.