Artists of the Renaissance (History Makers (Lucent)) [Library Binding]

James Barter (Editor)

Book Description

Series: History Makers (Lucent) | Publication Date: September 1998

Discusses the life and work of six artists of the Italian Renaissance whose works represent important innovations and achievements in painting, sculpture, and architecture. Included are Giotto, Donatello, Brunelleschi, da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-A book about the contributions of the artistic giants of the Italian Renaissance without color photography is a little like peanut butter without jelly: mightily nutritious but a little dry going down. Nevertheless, this title is a worthy addition to the art shelves. Barter presents the lives and accomplishments of six painters, sculptors, and architects who represent the early and High Renaissance: Giotto, Donatello, Brunelleschi, da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. An introduction, opening chapter, and epilogue establish the historical context for the period and persuasively describe it as a golden age of intellectual achievement, encompassing numerous fields of creative endeavor beyond the obvious artistic ones. The biographies that form the centerpiece of the work are accurate, comprehensive, and compellingly written; the artists become real flesh-and-blood characters with personal idiosyncrasies as well as genius. Key artistic works by each man are described and illustrated. Though marred by the inclusion of some small, murky black-and-white reproductions, this is a useful supplement to traditional art-history resources.
Mary Ann Carcich, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding: 112 pages
• Publisher: Lucent Books (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560064390
• ISBN-13: 978-1560064398
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,932,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From School Library Journal, September 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Artists of the Renaissance (History Makers (Lucent)) (Library Binding)

Gr 7 Up-A book about the contributions of the artistic giants of the Italian Renaissance without color photography is a little like peanut butter without jelly: mightily nutritious but a little dry going down. Nevertheless, this title is a worthy addition to the art shelves. Barter presents the lives and accomplishments of six painters, sculptors, and architects who represent the early and High Renaissance: Giotto, Donatello, Brunelleschi, da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. An introduction, opening chapter, and epilogue establish the historical context for the period and persuasively describe it as a golden age of intellectual achievement, encompassing numerous fields of creative endeavor beyond the obvious artistic ones. The biographies that form the centerpiece of the work are accurate, comprehensive, and compellingly written; the artists become real flesh-and-blood characters with personal idiosyncrasies as well as genius. Key artistic works by each man are described and illustrated. Though marred by the inclusion of some small, murky black-and-white reproductions, this is a useful supplement to traditional art-history resources.-Mary Ann Carcich, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Okay introduction and history, July 12, 2003

By 

Algernon D'Ammassa (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Artists of the Renaissance (History Makers (Lucent)) (Library Binding)

James Barter does a fine job of establishing historical context and provides interesting short biographies of six important Italian renaissance artists. It is especially good of him to include the sometimes-forgotten, but very influential, Giotto di Bondone.

Unfortunately, the book seems never to have gotten any quality attention from a copy-editor, as the book is loaded with a surprising number of grammatical mistakes, word omissions, and sentences with confused subjects. It occurs frequently enough to degrade the overall quality of the book.

Barter also makes appreciative and detailed reference to several paintings, which are represented here only in black and white illustrations - and poor-quality reproductions, at that: small, very dark, and low on contrast. Some, like photos of Da Vinci's "Adoration of the Magi" and "Last Supper," are virtually invisible and almost a waste of space.

With all respect to the author, who did fine work presenting this period and its art to a middle-school aged audience, one can do better for the same amount of money.