Stephanie Cowell is the author of a new novel, Claude & Camille.
From her Q & A at HistoricalNovels.info:
What do you think made the public dislike Impressionist art so much at first?
The public was much more involved with art then in those days before radio or television. The old Academic School of Art they knew was like a photograph; every blade of grass was painted precisely and the pictures were often of kings, gods and religious scenes. Everything was very still; it did not move. And even though Monet's early works were hardly as loosely painted as his great water lily paintings, the public did not understand. They felt the paintings were unfinished; they weren't interested in quick brush strokes capturing light on everything. Then finally a few began to understand and buy but it took a long time.
Did Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet really take work painting murals on cafe walls?
Renoir...[read on]
Read
an excerpt from Claude & Camille, and learn more about the book and author at
Stephanie Cowell's website and
blog.
The Page 69 Test: Claude & Camille.
--Marshal Zeringue
