In 1960, John Rewald took over the task of researching and collating Cezanne's oeuvre, following the death of Lionello Venturi, publisher of the first catalogue on Cezanne in 1936. The result is this catalogue raisonné, treating the 954 paintings accepted by Rewald. The plate volume reproduces all 954 paintings, with titles, dimensions and dates, and is chronologically arranged by Rewald’s new dating and numbering, with the works grouped by subject. Walter Feilchenfeldt introduces the book’s history and issues of dating, chronology and authenticity. Each painting is accompanied by a detailed commentary, which draws on an enormous variety of sources, and for over half the paintings, the commentary consists of a lengthy essay. Of special interest are the 200 documentary photographs integrated with the entries, which provide the scholar and admirer of Cézanne’s work with much fascinating visual information, including biographical portraits, landscape motifs and objects found in Cézanne’s studio. Fifty-eight magnificent colour reproductions of the largest paintings also appear in this volume, which concludes with important indices of owners, exhibitions and works; an extensive bibliography; and a concordance of Venturi and Rewald numbers. The mass of information and insight provided by catalogue raisonné makes it an essential reference for scholars, curators, collectors and librarians.
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