James Tarmy reviews the new biography of Alexander Calder and only finds fault with Jed Perl’s inability to see his protagonist as anything but a faultless saint:

It’s here where Perl’s book feels particularly thin, clearing Calder of anything as unscrupulous as ambition. He thus brushes aside the possibility that the artist could have been canny enough to use his connections to further his quest to establish a serious position in the art world. So while Perl carefully details Calder’s social gifts and role as expansive host and charming houseguest at English country estates, he discounts any impact it might have had on the artist’s career. “Variations on this portrait of Calder as a sly opportunist reappeared throughout his life,” Perl writes. “The accusations were unfounded.”

How Alexander Calder Sold the World on Moving Art  (Bloomberg)