The Bottom Line
Pros
- Tells the story of the model-wives of Cézanne, Monet, and Rodin.
- Fills in a neglected aspect of these three famous artist's work and lives.
- Makes you look at the paintings with a fresh eye.
Cons
- Lack of direct documentary evidence on the women's lives so the author does some speculation
Description
- Hardback edition: 320 pages, 59 black-and-white and one color illustrations. ISBN 9780300126242.
- Published by Yale University Press.
- Author Ruth Butler is professor emerita at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
- Book is divided into three parts, on Horten Fiquet (and Cézanne), Camille Doncieux (and Monet) and Rose Beuret (and Rodin).
- The 12-page introduction explains how Butler was motivated to write the book and some historical context.
Guide Review - Hidden in the Shadow of the Master by Ruth Butler
The first painting of Monet's to receive public acclaim was titled Camille when it was exhibited in the 1879, yet by 1900 even he was referring to the painting of his first wife simply as Woman in a Green Dress. Cézanne painted a portrait of his wife more than 25 times. Both women were the artist's model and wife, but generally get mentioned in passing only (if at all).
Hidden in the Shadow of the Master threads together the evidence of their lives, unpicks information from paintings, letters, documents, etc. to tell the stories of Camille Doncieux, Hortense Fiquet, and Rose Beuret, the model-wives of Monet, Cézanne, and Rodin.As a painter what's particularly interesting is their contribution to the creation of now-famous art and how much they put up with from their creative other half. (If you've a long-suffering partner who feels unappreciated, they might enjoy finding out they're in more-famous company.)
By necessity, given the lack of direct documentary evidence, the author at times deduces and speculates about things. Watch out for words such as "perhaps" or "surely". An important part of this book is putting the information into its context, which again helps with our appreciation and understanding of the paintings. For instance, that this was "the first generation in which a large number of artists identified their chosen model and their chosen woman as one and the same." It's something we don't think twice about these days. Or that it was an era in which "popular propaganda was firmly set against an artist getting married" as it would "inhibit inspiration".
I found this book compelling, enjoying learning about "the woman behind the famous artist" and gaining new appreciation for paintings they feature in. If you like Monet or Cézanne's paintings, I'd read it.
