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James Tissot
The author of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema surveys the life and work of James Tissot (1836-1902) and, for the first time in a large format, presents a superb selection of Tissot's finest paintings. Includes a list of his paintings in public collections. 60 illustrations, including 40 in full color.
- GenresArtNonfiction
1 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1992
About the author
Russell Ash
171 books29 followersRussell Ash is best known for his annual 'The Top Ten of Everything' and other popular reference works, but he is also the author of numerous humour titles. His extensive research work encompasses biographical studies and genealogy.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 4, 2020
I am currently reading this because one of my GR Friends has introduced a more recent book about this artist. Viewing the reviews and pictures of his paintings led me to research more about him. So, here I am!!
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I have been enchanted by the text of the biography of James Tissot. The accompanying 60 illustrations, including 40 full color plates are a feast for my eyes.
He was born in 1836, christened as Jacques-Joseph Tissot, in Nantes, France. Later he adopted the name, James- an “affectation”. His mother was a milliner and his father a successful linen draper. Of interest, their home was an active seaport, which contributed to many of his successful works of stylish women and of marine life.
The story of his life, his rise to amazing successes and increasing financial awards is as entertaining and intriguing as reading a novel. Numerous well known figures were actively present in his life. He was a close friend to Degas, Manet, Whistler and Charles Darwin, to name a few. His paintings eclipsed many periods, but he is best known for his paintings of the Victorian society, although he also had a final phase in his artistic career of numerous religious renderings.
There were several items in his life which sparked interest for me. In 1872, he moved to Grove End Road, in St. John's Wood, England, where he lived for ten years. The home was built in the 18th century, on the land of the abbey that gave its name to Abbey Road. (Hail to the Beatles!!). It was then noted for houses occupied by courtesans and “kept women”. There was a preponderance of shaded pathways to the villas which allowed visitors to step from their carriages and gain entry unseen without nearby neighbors viewing them.
A very frequent subject of Tissot's lovely paintings was the woman whose identity was shrouded in mystery for more than 50 years. He was said to have had an affair with her for years. They never married because both were Roman Catholic and she was a divorcee, which was an impediment. She was Kathleen Kelly, who at age 16, in 1871,was sent to India to visit with her brother there in order to marry a widower, Isaac Newton, an Indian Civil Surgeon. While on the ship she had a brief affair with the Captain Palliser. Despite this, she soon married Newton, but he discovered her intimacy with Palliser within a week of their wedding. She returned to England and he sued her for divorce. To further add to these events, later in the year she gave birth to a daughter, whom she claimed was Palliser's. Five years later, while frequently a visitor and model for Tissot, she had a second child. She bizarrely claimed Newton to be the father. Tissot was not implicated, but much speculation suggested he was. She was always known as "Mrs. Newton".
It was a pleasure to gaze at these illustrations. I especially enjoyed his skilled portrayals of fashionable women with their beautifully detailed garments and meticulously drawn features. Certainly men shared their places alongside them as social commentary. Tissot was highly productive. His output was more complex and diverse than his popular works would imply. Amongst many other items it was reported that in a working lifetime of more than forty years he produced about 300 finished paintings, etchings, drawings, book illustrations, enamels and sculptures. I suggest that you read about this complex artist!
______________________________
I have been enchanted by the text of the biography of James Tissot. The accompanying 60 illustrations, including 40 full color plates are a feast for my eyes.
He was born in 1836, christened as Jacques-Joseph Tissot, in Nantes, France. Later he adopted the name, James- an “affectation”. His mother was a milliner and his father a successful linen draper. Of interest, their home was an active seaport, which contributed to many of his successful works of stylish women and of marine life.
The story of his life, his rise to amazing successes and increasing financial awards is as entertaining and intriguing as reading a novel. Numerous well known figures were actively present in his life. He was a close friend to Degas, Manet, Whistler and Charles Darwin, to name a few. His paintings eclipsed many periods, but he is best known for his paintings of the Victorian society, although he also had a final phase in his artistic career of numerous religious renderings.
There were several items in his life which sparked interest for me. In 1872, he moved to Grove End Road, in St. John's Wood, England, where he lived for ten years. The home was built in the 18th century, on the land of the abbey that gave its name to Abbey Road. (Hail to the Beatles!!). It was then noted for houses occupied by courtesans and “kept women”. There was a preponderance of shaded pathways to the villas which allowed visitors to step from their carriages and gain entry unseen without nearby neighbors viewing them.
A very frequent subject of Tissot's lovely paintings was the woman whose identity was shrouded in mystery for more than 50 years. He was said to have had an affair with her for years. They never married because both were Roman Catholic and she was a divorcee, which was an impediment. She was Kathleen Kelly, who at age 16, in 1871,was sent to India to visit with her brother there in order to marry a widower, Isaac Newton, an Indian Civil Surgeon. While on the ship she had a brief affair with the Captain Palliser. Despite this, she soon married Newton, but he discovered her intimacy with Palliser within a week of their wedding. She returned to England and he sued her for divorce. To further add to these events, later in the year she gave birth to a daughter, whom she claimed was Palliser's. Five years later, while frequently a visitor and model for Tissot, she had a second child. She bizarrely claimed Newton to be the father. Tissot was not implicated, but much speculation suggested he was. She was always known as "Mrs. Newton".
It was a pleasure to gaze at these illustrations. I especially enjoyed his skilled portrayals of fashionable women with their beautifully detailed garments and meticulously drawn features. Certainly men shared their places alongside them as social commentary. Tissot was highly productive. His output was more complex and diverse than his popular works would imply. Amongst many other items it was reported that in a working lifetime of more than forty years he produced about 300 finished paintings, etchings, drawings, book illustrations, enamels and sculptures. I suggest that you read about this complex artist!
August 16, 2007
I used to get a lot more art books out of the library than I now do, with almost no systematic approach -- just going mainly on the images. In many cases, the books about a particular painter have pretty awful biographical sections, particularly the ones that wax on endlessly about the techniques and painterly details of the person. This one, I think, was more readable, but in the end, I generally got these books for the georgeous images. James Tissot was a French painter who moved to London and portrayed the monied classes of the 1800s, and boy, were his works lush. Check them out at http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databas....
May 23, 2025
This was a large, beautifully represented art book, with each spread a small blurb about the painting on the left, and a full page 'plate' or copy of the painting on the right. It was lovely to see these paintings reproduced properly on a full, large page. They need to be seen in person to be appreciated fully (these paintings have stopped me dead in museums), but this is the probably the closest representation you'll find.
The only thing I wish was that the descriptions on the left page had just a little more story, or background or description than they had. They really are bite-sized, but I was hoping for just a bit more.
The only thing I wish was that the descriptions on the left page had just a little more story, or background or description than they had. They really are bite-sized, but I was hoping for just a bit more.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews