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A review by louiza_read2live
GIRL IN A GREEN GOWN by Carola Hicks
4.0
Another good nonfiction read in 2022.
This book discusses the history of the era that Jan van Eyck painted this portrait in 1434, parts of the life and work of said artist, and also examines the details of the painting in terms of facial expression, their position in the room, their clothing fashion, the dyes used and the meaning of color, the folds, fur, and the cost etc., the furnitures, and every detail shown in the painting. Here is a quote from page 23: "Arnofilni's outer garment is a hueque, a long tabard, sleeveless and open at the sides. The shape originated as a form of Italian military dress that could be worn over armour, but it became fashionable as civilian wear in the early fifteenth century (like our modern-day use of camouflage patterns or combat trousers). The one in the painting seems to be made of silk and velvet [...]" (Hicks 23). I found the facts explored in this book fascinating. Furthermore, besides the artist and the painting, Carola Hicks presents the lives of every historical figure that owned the painting or was somehow important to its preservation over the years. Most of the negative criticism of this book seems to target this aspect of the book as some people seem to enjoy the details of the painting, but not the biographical details of its owners. I tend to disagree. I found this aspect too very interesting albeit that some historical figures might be more intriguing than others; for instance, the life bits of Marie of Hungary (or The Amazon Queen as she was called) were captivating while the chapter on The Dealers and The Prince and The Critics was somewhat dryer, so it felt longer. Nevertheless, overall, this was a very interesting book that I was glad to have read. It gave me more appreciation and a deeper understanding, not just about this particular famous painting, but also about art as a whole and about the historical period discussed in the book. I just wish the format of the book was better and higher quality with more and larger images. Note: The author Carola Hicks sadly passed away before the book was completed. After her death, her husband completed the last chapter and published the book.
This book discusses the history of the era that Jan van Eyck painted this portrait in 1434, parts of the life and work of said artist, and also examines the details of the painting in terms of facial expression, their position in the room, their clothing fashion, the dyes used and the meaning of color, the folds, fur, and the cost etc., the furnitures, and every detail shown in the painting. Here is a quote from page 23: "Arnofilni's outer garment is a hueque, a long tabard, sleeveless and open at the sides. The shape originated as a form of Italian military dress that could be worn over armour, but it became fashionable as civilian wear in the early fifteenth century (like our modern-day use of camouflage patterns or combat trousers). The one in the painting seems to be made of silk and velvet [...]" (Hicks 23). I found the facts explored in this book fascinating. Furthermore, besides the artist and the painting, Carola Hicks presents the lives of every historical figure that owned the painting or was somehow important to its preservation over the years. Most of the negative criticism of this book seems to target this aspect of the book as some people seem to enjoy the details of the painting, but not the biographical details of its owners. I tend to disagree. I found this aspect too very interesting albeit that some historical figures might be more intriguing than others; for instance, the life bits of Marie of Hungary (or The Amazon Queen as she was called) were captivating while the chapter on The Dealers and The Prince and The Critics was somewhat dryer, so it felt longer. Nevertheless, overall, this was a very interesting book that I was glad to have read. It gave me more appreciation and a deeper understanding, not just about this particular famous painting, but also about art as a whole and about the historical period discussed in the book. I just wish the format of the book was better and higher quality with more and larger images. Note: The author Carola Hicks sadly passed away before the book was completed. After her death, her husband completed the last chapter and published the book.