ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

Art history and appreciation is sometimes thought to be too lofty for young minds, but this book defies that notion by presenting seminal works of visual art in an accessible format. Some of the artists included are expected, such as Rembrandt and Dalí, but some of the most intriguing painters are more obscure, such as young August Macke, who painted for only 10 years before being killed in action during WWII, or Hieronymus Bosch, who hid optical illusions in many of his works. Each full-color painting is accompanied by insets highlighting the most intriguing details, all of which are quirky enough to keep viewers searching for more. The artists' biographies are compelling and are made even more relevant by time lines that highlight significant world events during their respective lives. This book fills an important need in maximizing children's cultural literacy and putting real-life people in a historical context.

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

This large-format volume provides a thorough overview of some of history's most influential painters, organized chronologically from Hieronymus Bosch to Basquiat. Captioned high-quality images of masterpieces support the informational text, which addresses styles, backgrounds, and inspirations; engaging personal details and anecdotes are also included. Sporadic quiz questions and activity suggestions encourage reader participation. Timeline. Glos.

School Library Journal (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

Gr 4-8 Bosch, Titian, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Goya, Friedrich, C&3;zanne, Klimt, Macke, O'Keeffe, Dal&7;, Richter, and Basquiat are the 13 artists discussed in this title. A wide range of styles and eras are covered, from the 15th century through the 20th century, Renaissance to modern art. There is some basic information about each artist, such as birth date, date of death, hometown, family information, and style of art. Time lines illustrate what was happening in the world at the time they were working; this is helpful in giving historical context to readers. Each artist is covered on a spread or two, with full-color captioned reproductions of his or her best-known paintings, all of which is supported by trivia questions, biographical and stylistic information, and a glossary. The text has grammatical errors (the semicolon usage is puzzling), conjectures ("Paul [C&3;zanne] would surely have been pleased!"), and editorializes ("[Salvador Dal&7;] thought up the craziest ideas for his art"). The selection of artists seems arbitrary, and it is debatable whether the people profiled here are the best choices to represent their particular time period or style. Additionally, the inclusion of a bibliography and/or source notes would have been useful. A limited purchase for most libraries. Laura Lutz, Pratt Institute, New York City