Matt's Old Masters
Titian, Rubens, Velasquez, Hogarth
Published on 6. November 2003
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-297-64671-6 (ISBN)
Description
Welcome to an alarming book. In it Matthew Collings, known for his TV programmes and books about new art, tells you how to look at the old masters. Of course you can look at them however you like. But this book gives you some art historical facts as the context for what you're looking at - Collings gives you the resources you need, in order to make sense of what you're seeing. And he gets you to think for yourself. In art culture today all you hear about are literal meanings, about subject matter and ideas. Matt Collings objects to the droning repetition of that stuff. He looks to the past for a different model of art, one where the surface, the form, the look of something, is part of the idea, maybe even the main thing. We can't have the past back as a complete package, of course. That would be mad. But we can find critical principles in it that we can use to make something better out of our own time. The key figures he has chosen are Titian, Rubens, Velasquez and Hogarth. The first three stand for the highest that painting can go - rich, free, flowing, grand. In art historical terms, this is the 'painterly' stream of art.
The last one didn't punch quite so high, but in him Collings sees a principle of adapting your understanding and admiration for what seems higher and greater than yourself - the achievements of the past - to your own sense of what is alive and real. Matthew Collings' new book gives a unique approach to the paintings of the past.
The last one didn't punch quite so high, but in him Collings sees a principle of adapting your understanding and admiration for what seems higher and greater than yourself - the achievements of the past - to your own sense of what is alive and real. Matthew Collings' new book gives a unique approach to the paintings of the past.
Reviews / Votes
The TV series starts on Sunday 23 November at 8pm on C4 and there's a huge amount of publicity lined up. So far we've had: THE TIMES Saturday Review - 1,000 word piece by Matt on 'Why Painting Matters' + possible small extract. Ran 15.11.03 THE OBSERVER REVIEW - Harriet Lane has interviewed Matt and is writing a big piece about the book and TV series. Ran 16.11.03 NEW STATESMAN - piece by Matt on the book and series and on the aved'/English Heritage conference. To run 18.11.03 INDEPENDENT SATURDAY MAGAZINE, Heroes & Villains - Matt has written about Velasquez as his hero. To run 22.11.03 Channel 4 RICHARD AND JUDY - Matt is a doing a live interview on Monday 24th November. The book will be displayed on the table throughout the interview BBC Radio 4 START THE WEEK - guest on the programme with Helen Dunmore and Antonia Fraser live at 9.00am on Monday 24th November BBC Radio London, ROBERT ELMS SHOW - live interview at 2.30pm on 20.11.03 BBC Radio Scotland, THE ARTS SHOW - live interview between 6-7pm on 20.11.03 Radio 4 SATURDAY REVIEW - definitely reviewing book and series LBC, Angela Rippon's Arts Show - interviewing Matt this Sunday 16.11.03 HAM AND HIGH - interview with Matt to run on 21.11.03 RA magazine - review of book and series. ART MONTHLY - doing a review of the book and the series MODERN PAINTERS - doing a review in their 'Bookmark' section. TIME OUT - Emma Perry has interviewed Matt. To run week of 17th November. Regional Newspapers - a freelance journalist has interviewed Matt. The interview will be syndicated to all the relevant regional newspapers. Ian Hislop - was sent the book and has promised to review it for one of the broadsheets if he can (he is a big fan of Hogarth). And there will of course be lots of previews of the C4 programme - already confirmed is a Pick of the Day for the SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE SECTIONMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Illustrations
100
Dimensions
Height: 227 mm
Width: 195 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
895 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-297-64671-6 (9780297646716)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Matthew Collings is an artist, art historian and cultural critic who writes for various newspapers and magazines. He was a presenter on The Late Show and now presents Channel 4's annual broadcast of the Turner Prize.