A
Blind Man Crazy for Color: A Tribute
to Léon Angély documents an early
20th century retired clerk who collected
art by Picasso, Modigliani, and Utrillo
before these artists were famous.
Despite his failing vision, Léon Angély
could see the promise of these artists
before those around him acknowledged
their talents. He employed a young girl
to help him make his selections when his
sight no longer permitted him to
personally enjoy them.
The
book is illustrated with original
artwork by Picasso's model and muse,
Sylvette David, who posed for the
painter in 1954 when she was only
nineteen years old. Her black and white
and color sketches accent this colorful
portrait of Léon's life, motivations,
involvement in the art world, and the
pieces he collected. Previously
unpublished information about the blind
man's passion and his influence on the
art world enhances a survey that should
be required reading and acquisition for
any serious art history student and the
libraries catering to them.
The
well-researched treatise is supported by
documentation that ranges from birth and
death certificates to Rob Couteau's
personal research into Sylvette David
who, at eighty-seven, adds her memories
to the story to expand reader insights
about both Picasso and David's life and
their art involvements.
Readers
also receive revealing inspections of
the process of interviewing artists and
capturing their historical and artistic
impact, adding to A Blind Man Crazy
for Color's importance as a
survey that goes beyond a singular
biography of an art enthusiast to delve
into the world of artists, art
appreciation, and muses. The blend of
all these elements demonstrates the
interlinked potentials and importance of
artists, muses, and those who
appreciate, purchase, and analyze their
work:
"Although
he died impoverished and nearly
forgotten, and although the identity of
his youthful guide is still enshrouded
in mystery, le Père Angély helped to
preserve what Richardson calls the
“sacred stuff of art” – regardless of
whether his motivation was merely
pecuniary. Léon and Joséphine may also
have inspired the greatest artist of the
twentieth century."
Serious
art libraries should consider this
extraordinary recreation of artistic
ambitions against all odds a mainstay
that stands out in many different ways.
--
Diane Donovan, Senior Editor, Midwest
Book Review
