Rating: 5 stars
Cover Synopsis: Discover the beauty and hidden mysteries in Western art's most celebrated masterpieces in this exciting art history lesson cleverly disguised as a game.
I have been searching for a book about art for my kids. Something that will expose them to famous art and artists. This one didn't quite fit the bill -- it's a little advanced for my brood of 1-5 year olds. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
First of all, I was impressed with the size of this book. It's about 14x11 inches, so you can really SEE the art. And it covers 20 pieces over a broad spectrum of time from 1305 to 1964, including Leonardo's Mona Lisa, Warhol's Marilyn, Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, Monet's Water Lilies and Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. Then it zero's in on 4 to 8 specific areas of the paintings, pointing out little details and telling interesting back-stories. For instance, in Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini Wedding Portrait, we discover the symbolism in the shoes, the dress, the mirror and even the artist's signature. Fascinating stuff.
The book also includes more in-depth explanation of the masterpiece and the artist's background. This book may have been written for children, but it took me several days to read and admire. My only complaint is that at 20 paintings, it wasn't long enough.
Now, back to the hunt for a book for my kids...
Cover Synopsis: Discover the beauty and hidden mysteries in Western art's most celebrated masterpieces in this exciting art history lesson cleverly disguised as a game.
I have been searching for a book about art for my kids. Something that will expose them to famous art and artists. This one didn't quite fit the bill -- it's a little advanced for my brood of 1-5 year olds. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
First of all, I was impressed with the size of this book. It's about 14x11 inches, so you can really SEE the art. And it covers 20 pieces over a broad spectrum of time from 1305 to 1964, including Leonardo's Mona Lisa, Warhol's Marilyn, Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, Monet's Water Lilies and Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. Then it zero's in on 4 to 8 specific areas of the paintings, pointing out little details and telling interesting back-stories. For instance, in Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini Wedding Portrait, we discover the symbolism in the shoes, the dress, the mirror and even the artist's signature. Fascinating stuff.
The book also includes more in-depth explanation of the masterpiece and the artist's background. This book may have been written for children, but it took me several days to read and admire. My only complaint is that at 20 paintings, it wasn't long enough.
Now, back to the hunt for a book for my kids...
