Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: The Hermitage, Leningrad, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, and the National Gallery of Art, Washington

The United States and Russia currently house some of the most impressive collections of Impressionist and Post Impressionist art outside of Paris. This book a 1986 co-creation by Russian and American publishers present more than 270 examples of the most important late nineteenth and early twentieth century paintings held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Hermitage in Leningrad , and Moscow's Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts The book opens with two essays written by American and Russian art historians discussing the painters, their works ,and the collectors who helped form the collections in each of the museums. Almost all of the works in the Russian museums were collected by the Muscovites Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov. Chester Dale, Paul Mellon, and Ailsa Mellon Bruce are only some of the collectors who donated their paintings to the National Gallery. Afterwards the mostly full page color plates are arranged by painter each prefaced with a biography. All the major impressionists and post Impressionists are represented with the exception of Gustave Caillebotte. The authors also decided to include in the publication the Nabis Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard as well as the twentieth century masters Maurice Utrillo, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. All of these later artists were influenced by painters like Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Cezanne early in their careers. I found all the reproductions were beautifully and clearly photographed without any detailed commentary so the reader can just enjoy gazing at the artworks. A major plus are the several pre-Fauve still lifes and landscapes held at the Hermitage and Pushkin. I always wanted to see examples of his very early work in a book. The near twenty Blue and Rose Picassos are probably the best I've seen. Although the book is a little dated since the National Gallery and Hermitage acquired other works since publication, I still recommend it to those who want an album of exquisite French paintings.

Nothing to dislike. I keep it open on display and turn to different pages as the spirit moves me. I treasure this book.

After seeing this book at a Bed & Breakfast I decided that it was a must have for my new home in Florida. Since I love visiting art museums it was truly a great opportunity to now have some of the masterpieces I always love gazing at, right in the privacy of my own home. I hope others take advantage and buy this special volume.

Written material was well done and very informative and the pictures were wonderful .

This is an older book but still is very pertinent for today. It details the painters of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Very informative.