Painting Methods: Impressionist

This is by far the most knowledgably written book on the subject of painting as an art, not as an academic excercise, written in English. The subject is so much more extensive than Impressionism that the title is in fact somewhat misleading.

This book is divided into 5 parts listed below. The reprint of the revised edition I have (ISBN 0823037126 , 1992) states that it is the revised edition in color. Additionally, the jacket states that the original text is now supplemented by 135 full color reproductions and 40 color details. So avoid the original if you want the color plates. For each artist, the author discusses known materials, methods, palettes and more. Likewise when it comes to many of the images and details there are specific references to colors and application - though not enough to justify buying the book on that alone. In all, it's a nice book with good information and images. Unfortunately I can't compare it to other books because I have none on the impressionists, but hopefully the other information I have provided will help you. Part 1: Masters of the Earlier Nineteenth Century - Covers John Constable (8 pgs), J.M.W. Turner (10 pgs) , Edouard Manet (1 pg), and Gustave Courbet (10 pgs). Part 2: The Impressionist Masters - Covers Claude Monet (10 pgs), Pierre Auguste Renoir (12 pgs), Camille Pissaro (8 pgs), and Edgar Degas (14 pgs) Part 3: After Impressionism - Covers Paul Cezanne (10 pgs) and Georges Seurat (10 pgs) Part 4: Three Americans in Europe - Covers Mary Cassatt (8 pgs), John singer Sargent (8 pgs) and James McNeill Whistler (10 pgs) Part 5: Three Heirs of Impressionism - Covers Edouard Vuillard (8 pgs), Pierre Bonnard (6 pgs) and Walter Richard Sickert (6 pgs).