by John Russell
The only better gift for a Francophile would be a month in a tiny attic room on the Left Bank. Russell, a New York Times art critic, arranges his text around 310 illustrations: photographs, old engravings and lithographs, and reproductions in color of paintings by Renoir, Dufy, Sargent, Utrillo, Seurat and many others. The chapter on the Comédie-Française, with photos of rehearsals and lavishly costumed productions, is delightful. The section on Notre Dame is inspiring. The rest of the book is equally splendid. (Abrams, $45)
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