Sphinx : the life and art of Leonor Fini /

Leonor Fini's complex, fascinating life and art are the subject of this beautiful book. Fini (1907-96) grew up in Trieste but spent most of her life in France. She moved in Surrealist circles in 1930s Paris but never considered herself part of the Surrealist movement. Fini's paintings feature independent, powerful women-goddesses, sphinxes, and sorceresses-in dreamlike settings. Independent art historian Webb knew Fini from 1984 to her death; his text combines the art historical and the personal to create a detailed portrait of an artist who was herself a work of art. The large-format book is abundantly illustrated with color reproductions of Fini's work, as well as many photographs of her, and includes an extensive list of biographical and bibliographical references. Verdict Although this is the most comprehensive work available on Fini, its high price will prevent many libraries from buying it. Less expensive options include Whitney Chadwick's classic Women Artists and the Surrealist Movement and Patricia Allmer's Angels of Anarchy: Women Artists and Surrealism.-Martha Smith, Elmira Coll., Queens, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.