The Duke and the Peasant: Life in the Middle Ages (Adventures in Art (Prestel)) [Hardcover]

Sister Wendy Beckett (Author), Jean De France Berry (Author)

Book Description

Series: Adventures in Art (Prestel)

The calendar pictures in Duc de Berry's the "Tres Riches Heures" give a colourful, richly detailed account of the life of peasants and nobles through the changing seasons - the cold, snowy days of winter and the warmth of the open fire, spring with its fresh colours and flowers evertwhere, summer with harvesters labouring in the heat, and autumn when the grapes are picked and the seeds sown. This is one book in the series "Adventures in Art" which is aimed at the young and the young at heart. It takes us on a voyage of discovery, exploring the world of art and showing us how to look at pictures in a relaxed, light-hearted way. Aiming to open up the world of art to children of all ages everywhere, these books present famous artists and their works in a way that should stimulate our own creativity.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up. It's a delight to see the 12 calendar pages from the most beautiful Book of Hours of the late medieval period reproduced as full-page pictures in this slim volume. In each of the meticulously rendered scenes of castles, courtiers, and well-tilled fields there are a multitude of authentic details about the Middle Ages. Opposite each of the pictures is the name of the month with the first letter decorated in the style of medieval illumination, and a paragraph of commentary by Sister Wendy Beckett. Her remarks are both descriptive, pointing out details to be noted and appreciated, and conversational. Her chatty observations are informal and personal, like her entertaining TV programs on art history. In her view the medieval world is full of fortunate people. The peasants live in harmony with one another and the earth they plow and plant while the aristocrats, though richly dressed and dwelling in the Duke's magnificent castles, are bound by rules and held to behavior suitable to their rank. Sister Wendy's benign view of medieval life fittingly reflects the artists' efforts to show the domains of their patron, the Duc de Berry, to be well-ordered and prosperous. This is a lovely book to pore over, rich in its art, providing a rosy window through which to see a fascinating period of history.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. The editing is a little loose at times, but it's hard not to appreciate the warm, unaffected tone of this book, which introduces a work of art (and a way of life) that children probably won't learn much about in elementary school--namely, the 12 calendar paintings in the duc de Berry's Book of Hours. Each right-hand page presents a full-page reproduction of one of the paintings. Left-hand pages contain the name of the corresponding month, a miniature of the painting, complete with a zodiac sign (unfortunately, far too small to be appreciated), and a detail from the artwork. The conversational text, which occasionally challenges kids to think about or answer questions, concentrates on the activities taking place in the work and points out special details as well as the contrast between the lives of the wealthy and the peasantry. Picture Ladies will find the book useful for guiding discussion; art enthusiasts can read it on their own. The best so far in the very uneven Adventures in Art series. Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Publishing (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791318136
• ISBN-13: 978-3791318134
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,187,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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