The Judgement of Paris

• The Judgement of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade that Gave the World Impressionism - Ross King

This is a wonderful text. ...as are most texts written by Ross King. I found the juxtaposition of Meissonier and Manet to be an effective way to show the atmosphere of the art world in Paris and the struggle over depicting the glories of the past or the daily events of their time. King compares the two artists like Leonard Shlain combines Art and Physics.

Not only did King portray the art world in the second half of the nineteenth century by discussing the artists, the salon, and the major patrons, but he did an excellent job of providing his readers with an idea of the social and political atmosphere of the times.

This is one of those books that you hate to finish because you become entralled in the era and the people involved. (It's even harder to finish when you've already read all of King's books and you have to wait for more).