Kinstler's adroit painterly style reminds me of James Montgomery Flagg [although its been forty years since I've seen a Flagg painting}. I was surprised on rereading the book that a portrait of Flagg can be found on p. 22. Most portrait painting is characterized by a deadly formality. It is, I fear, the nature of the beast. And most portraits in the book are of famous or vainglorious people and are necessarily formal. When he is given leeway with friends such as Thom Wolfe or Katherine Hepburn, his work sizzles. Luckily, he has chosen these very portraits to illustrate his technique. Even the most gifted portrait artist has something to gain from this book.

This is beyond all question the best book on portrait painting ever produced.