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    The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism
    The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism
    The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism
    Audiobook (abridged)14 hours

    The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism

    Written by Ross King

    Narrated by Tristan Layton

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    While the Civil War raged in America, another very different revolution was beginning to take shape across the Atlantic, in the studios of Paris: The artists who would make Impressionism the most popular art form in history were showing their first paintings amidst scorn and derision from the French artistic establishment. Indeed, no artistic movement has ever been, at its inception, quite so controversial. The drama of its birth, played out on canvas, would at times resemble a battlefield; and, as Ross King reveals, Impressionism would reorder both history and culture as it resonated around the world.

    The Judgment of Paris chronicles the dramatic decade between two famous exhibitions—the scandalous Salon des Refuses in 1863 and the first Impressionist showing in 1874—set against the rise and dramatic fall of Napoleon III and the Second Empire after the Franco-Prussian War. A tale of many artists, it revolves around the lives of two, described as "the two poles of art"—Ernest Meissonier, the most famous and successful painter of the 19th century, hailed for his precision and devotion to history; and Edouard Manet, reviled in his time, who nonetheless heralded the most radical change in the history of art since the Renaissance. Out of the fascinating story of their parallel lives, illuminated by their legendary supporters and critics—Zola, Delacroix, Courbet, Baudelaire, Whistler, Monet, Hugo, Degas, and many more—Ross King shows that their contest was not just about Art, it was about competing visions of a rapidly changing world.

    With a novelist's skill and the insight of an historian, King recalls a seminal period when Paris was the artistic center of the world, and a revolutionary movement had the power to electrify and divide a nation.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateJan 10, 2006
    ISBN9781593978761
    Author

    Ross King

    Ross King is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling and Brunelleschi's Dome as well as several novels. Born and raised in Canada, he lives outside Oxford, England.

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    Reviews for The Judgment of Paris

    4.5/5

    21 ratings15 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I love the Impressionists and found this book, not only an enjoyable read, but one the most understandable and comprehensive book about the whole movement. It not only covered the whole Impressionist period in Paris in the late 1800's, but also about the artist's personal lives, some history of the time and the ruling Bonaparte family. For anyone with an interest in this period of art ... I highly recommend this book.
    • 3/5
      To be honest, this book is not as good as it should be. Its a good snapshot of the early years of Manet, the prime years of Meissonier and some engaging gossip about the Paris Salons of the 1870s. But at the end of it I was really none the wiser as to how and why Impressionism came to be - plein air painting does not automatically lead to Impressionism. And I am even less clear on why Meissonier went from the most famous artist of his day to a footnote in the annals of Art History. Yes, fashions change but there must be more to it than that. So overall this is a an interesting and amusing narrative but could have done with more contextual discussion. I was left unsatisfied
    • 4/5
      King chronicles the careers of two French artists, Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet, during the late 19th century. Meissonier, the darling of the Paris Salon (the organization that could make or break an artist’s career during that time), was the most famous and highest paid painter of the day. In contrast, Manet, heralded as the father of the Impressionist movement, struggled with constant rejection by the Salon as well as the critics. Manet's popularity came later in his career and following his death while Meissonier's work has since faded into obscurity. King gives a fascinating look at the politics and history of the turbulent time period. My only criticism: while the book provided some illustrations of the paintings, there could have been more. King went into great detail about the minute details of many paintings, which was wonderful when the painting was illustrated in the book, but a bit frustrating when it was not. All in all, a good read.
    • 4/5
      The decade between 1863 and 1873 marked the beginning of Impressionism in France. This book covers that period, focusing mainly on Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet and the struggles and successes they had both commercially and critically. Interspersed are the repercussions on Art of the Franco-Prussian war and the Commune. A great history of the time, although it seems to fall apart at the end, as though the author wasn't sure how to end it.
    • 3/5
      It's hard to believe that Impressionism, the almost universally loved school of art would ever have been regarded as dangerous and controversial. However, in the 1860's that's precisely how it was regarded by the powers that be in France. This entertaining group tells the story of the movement through two opposing artists of the time: Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet, the former an accepted and officially revered traditionalist and the latter a revolutionary at the vanguard of a new wave of art.It also weaves the history of the time through the story, the rise of the Second Empire, Baron Haussmann's rebuilding of Paris, the Franco-Prussian War, the bloody Commune, and finally La Belle Epoch. A great read for those who love art, history and/or France
    • 5/5
      beautifully narrated. Engaging, educational & extremely enjoyable. Thank you greatly.
    • 4/5
      As good an introduction to the impressionist movement as I've read, though the end feels a bit rushed (and to be honest I haven't read all that many). Not quite to the same level as others of King's books, but still provides a very decent treatment of the evolution of the movement's critical reception. King's biographical details on the not-at-all-well-known-now Meissonier were fascinating, too.
    • 5/5
      This brief history of Impressionism as told through an ingenious interwoven Manet vs. Meissonier narrative, displays true literary genius. Ross King does a phenomenal job leading the reader viscerally through mid-19th century Paris. Napoleon III, Baudelaire, Emile Zola, and the famous "RAT" cuisine consumed by so many Parisians during the Franco-Prussian War, is all here. The narration is great, the flow perfect, and story itself....a marvelous historical literary adventure that does not disappoint!!! I highly recommend giving this title a try.!!
    • 5/5
      What a fine Judgement!This book is really interesting and it's very difficult to lay it down before the last page is actually read! The detailed (but never boring) description of the lives and works of two French painters (Messonier and Manet) during the 1860-1870's forms the central stage of a much larger play in which the turbulent development of art during that period in Paris (and with Paris then being the artistic center of the world, the art world at large) is fascinatingly unveiled. The concept of zooming in on two opposite and interesting contemporaries to tell a larger story of the period at hand really works well. I'll certainly be keeping titles by Ross King in mind for further reading.
    • 5/5
      I was familiar with much of this art history from a university introductory course (Darkness at Noon) and French political history from other readings but King weaves a wonderful story of their interconnectedness that filled in a lot of gaps for me. Perfect pandemic reading.
    • 1/5
      I really don't understand why they edited so much of the book out of the recording.
    • 4/5
      a really detailed picture of the French Art world in the 1860s and 1870s and the birth of impressionism and the eclipse of its precursors embodied among the rivalry of Messioner and Manet. Also set against the political backdrop of Rule of Louis Napolean and the Franco-Prussian war and the Paris Commune and the turmoil that made the third republic. Really good and wide-ranging history.
    • 5/5
      Fascinating and rich with history. Truly enjoyed visiting the two main wineries represented here. A wonderful tale!
    • 5/5
      Gives one a greater understanding of Impressionism and Manet versus Mesangere (one of the most popular romantic/realist painters during the 19th century in France). A fascinating read I really recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Tremendous! Any art history or history lover should read this. Great integration of the history period with the two highlighted artists Manet and Meissonier. Although after reading I was more excited about learning more about Courbet.