Masterpieces Up Close: Western Painting from the 14th to 20th Centuries [Hardcover]

Claire d'Harcourt (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up | Series: Up Close

Masterpieces Up Close will send readers on a journey through the world's most famous paintings from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. They will see some familiar faces, like Leonardo's Mona Lisa and Warhol's Marilyn, and meet some that may be new to them, like the princess in Velzquez's Las Meninas and the mysterious little girl in Rembrandt's Night Watch.

Full-color reproductions of over 20 paintings provide the perfect hunting ground for over a hundred details. Lift-the-flap keys at the end of the book provide the answers. Informative text helps children learn why these paintings have intrigued us for centuries and discover just what makes each work a masterpiece.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8–From Giotto to Warhol, d'Harcourt selects some of the most famous icons of Western art for a closer look. Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, and Rembrandt's Night Watch receive scrutiny here. Those familiar with Art Up Close (2003) and The Louvre in Close-Up (2004, both Chronicle) will recognize the format of this oversize volume: boldly colored spreads featuring a central, large image surrounded by smaller details from it. Interesting tidbits and questions accompany each small picture, inviting viewers to wonder, think, and question what they see. Children will especially enjoy looking for the details in the larger image. More information and answers to some of the questions presented are given every three or four pages, generally corresponding to the end of a century. The last pages include lift-the-flap copies of the paintings and biographical sketches of the artists. A visually striking volume for browsers and art education.–Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH
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Review

"A visually striking volume for browsers and art education." -School Library Journal

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811854035
• ISBN-13: 978-0811854030
• Product Dimensions: 14.8 x 11 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing resource, February 9, 2007

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Embrace Life - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Masterpieces Up Close: Western Painting from the 14th to 20th Centuries (Hardcover)

We homeschool and were looking for a book to use with artist studies. This book has wonderful pictures, and points out details that were surprising to me, even on very familiar prints. I had borrowed this from the library, and the first day home I knew we would buy it for our own home library. This book would be a welcome addition to any child's collection, for pure enjoyment or simple introductions to the world of famous masterpieces.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What to look for, January 16, 2009

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Watch Shopper "Watch Shopper" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Masterpieces Up Close: Western Painting from the 14th to 20th Centuries (Hardcover)

This book is great for learning more about art. Giving to young people; great intro to art.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book even for preschoolers, June 8, 2009

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Lawrence M. Sanger (Ohio) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Masterpieces Up Close: Western Painting from the 14th to 20th Centuries (Hardcover)

This is a great book. The advantages are that it is large enough format for the reproductions to be good, and the selection of paintings really does have some of the most famous paintings, from Giotto to Warhol.

Someone earlier mentioned nudes. Well, if Botticelli's Venus is too much for your household, this book isn't for you, but as nudes go, it's pretty tame.

My boy and I enjoyed it over a period of months (ages 2-3). He may not have understood a lot that an older child might, but he did like the paintings and enjoyed finding the details--like the "I spy" books.