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SPURLING**, HILARY: : THE UNKNOWN MATISSE: A LIFE OF HENRI MATISSE,VOLUME ONE: 1869-1908

LONDON.HAMISH HAMILTON,LTD.,1998.

ISBN 0241133408.

UK,thick,heavy 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn. [Complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.] FINE/VG+.Neat familial (daughter to mother) date lined (Christmas 1998) gift presentation inscrptn to ffe,and price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp, clean,matt,blue background with glossy,subject's portrait painting illustrated insert to front panel of dw/dj,with white+gilt lettering rear panel with orange+white lettered critics' reviews; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no major nicks or tears present.All corners of dw/dj minimally creased with some rubbing and miniscule loss to rear, lower corner,and both head+foot of spine/backstrip minimally bumped with reciprocal creasing.Foot of same with minimal sellotape repair both internally and externally.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog- ear reading creases to any pages' corners, appears unread - apart from my own collation. Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,publisher's original plain navy blue cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip and clean - inscrptn excepted - plain navy blue endpapers.UK,thick,heavy 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,vii-xxvpp+3-480pp [paginated] includes contents list/table,illustrations list/ table, double-page genealogical family tree,author's preface,12 chapters,profuse contemporary b/w illustration reproductions and b/w auto+ biographical photographs interspersed throughout the text and the book and 24pp of Matisse's colour reproductions of some of his paintings in 1 block,between pp230/1,a key to notes,notes and an index.Plus [unpaginated] subject's b/w self-portrait thumbnail sketch illustrated page,half-title+title pages and 6pp blanks at the rear of the book. See also my book ID rja784018 for an example of Volume Two of same subject,by same author.   This is the first true biography of Henri Matisse,and most of its contents will surprise even specialists. The few facts known until now about Matisse's life have been distorted by inaccuracy,misunderstanding and glaring gaps. Hilary Spurling's book investigates the secret life of the Fauve - or wild beast - whose paintings shocked and infuriated his contemporaries in the first years of the century (1900s). It tells the story of an innovative genius,born in war-torn,poverty-stricken Flanders - just the other side of the French frontier from Van Gogh's home - who overcame hardship and disaster to fulfil at last Van Gogh's prophecy: 'The painter of the future will be such a colourist as has never yet been.' It is also the story of several remarkable women,including his mistress, his wife and his daughter; of the older artists he learnt from,the younger ones who were his friends and fellow pioneers; and the patrons who backed him against the derision of the public. Above all,it is the story of man as warm, humorous and generous in his private relationships as he was dedicated to his art, whose true character emerges at last from this enchanting and astonishing portait in depth. Please contact seller,because of the heavier weight - just in excess of 1.5Kg unpackaged - and the value of this item for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

UK,thick 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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