In seventeenth-century Rome, fifteen-year-old Marco is excited to be apprenticed to a famous sculptor but soon discovers that he has much to learn before he is allowed to touch a piece of stone.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6. As he did in Antonio's Apprenticeship (Holiday, 1996), Morrison uses a first-person narrative to explain the process of creating a work of art. The scene here is Rome in the last century of the Renaissance; the work of art is a group of marble figures to be placed on a fountain in the center of a piazza. Marco, a young and eager apprentice, describes his lessons in drawing, in creating small models of the work, and in constructing full-size clay figures over a wooden frame. Carrying careful measurements, he and other workers travel to Carrara to order and transport the huge marble blocks from which the statues will be cut, chiseled, and polished. The process is lengthy and the work is hard. It will be three years before the fountain is completed. The young apprentice has learned his trade, and learned also that every sculptor must possess the valuable gift of patience. The heavy brushwork in Morrison's full-page and double-spread paintings gives a solid, sculptural quality to the illustrations. The rich, deep colors used in the landscapes and the clothing of the workers effectively suggests the Renaissance setting, and if the human figures are somewhat stilted and sketchily rendered, they vigorously demonstrate the steps necessary to the creation of a finished sculpture. A glossary of terms adds to the book's usefulness for classes that are studying the Renaissance and its art.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3-6. Fifteen-year-old Marco becomes an apprentice to a famous sculptor in seventeenth-century Rome. From the sketches of cadavers to preliminary clay models, the Carrara marble quarries, and the actual hammer-and-chisel work, Marco explains the steps and techniques behind Renaissance sculpture. Although told as an illustrated story, this is disappointing as fiction. Plot and characterization are minimal. The intent is clearly instructional, and nonfiction would be more informative and more accessible to students. The heavy, mottled illustrations showing landscapes and scenes are better than those portraying human figures and faces. Like the author's companion book Antonio's Apprenticeship (1996), this is primarily a supplement for the history curriculum. Linda Perkins
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A TREMENDOUS followup to Antonio!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Neptune Fountain: The Apprenticeship of a Renaissance Sculptor (Hardcover)
This much anticipated (by me) followup to Mr. Morrison's first book: ANTONIO'S APPRENTICESHIP,is a delightful story and beautiful to view. As his only brother/sibling I've grown up watching him (Taylor), flip over placemats at restaurants, draw in books, and bring home steadily more beautiful work from school. But as a psychiatrist, I appreciate the affect of his work. In a time of "in-your-face attitude", there is quiet times in his book: in the story, and the paintings and (my favorite) the drawings. Sometimes the body language reminds me of times working with Taylor and my dad around our house (I know one painting has the sky from our backyard). My recommendation is to find a kid (preferably 3rd-4th grade) struggling with homework, soccer, and music practice, read this book together, and enjoy the quiet time
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN AMAZING AND TIMELESS PIECE OF WORK HERE! If you can find a copy of this one...jump on it!,
This review is from: The Neptune Fountain: The Apprenticeship of a Renaissance Sculptor (Hardcover)
It always comes as a shock to me, even after all of these years, when I type in the title of a book, run a search, and while finding the book, discover that it is now out of print! This is particularly true of books that are truly quality books and indeed, timeless books such as we have here.
"I was born fifteen years ago today in 1605. My father wants me to continue working with him in the shoe shop, but I want to be like Luigi Borghini, the greatest sculptor in Rome. Today I am going to his studio to ask him if he will take me on as an apprentice." And so begins a wonderfully enchanting tale told in a mellow tone which is very, very informative, of a young lad's adventure as an apprentice in seventeenth-century Rome. Taylor Morrison has truly created a remarkable work here. We are taken via some beautiful illustrations and a very readable text from the streets of Renaissance Rome, into the studio of the sculptor; Luigi Borghini and then through the entire process of creating a most wonderful work of art. From the studio to the marble quarries of Carrara; we are treated to the entire process, drawing, study, designing, modeling, cutting to the stone, transportation, the shaping of a figure which is pulled from a solid block of marble, all the way through its placement in the Piazza Corsanini. The story is told in first person through the eyes of this young boy. This is one of those books/stories that are not only a delight to read, but informs and inspires at the same time. The author has used various techniques in creating his illustrations, from painting, to drawing, from swirling landscapes to extremely detailed glimpse of art pieces and work methods. This is extremely effective! This is one talented artist! Now I am not one of those people who wail and whine over the "good old days," as I feel they actually never existed outside of nostalgic wishful thinking, but I happened to have been teaching a class of sixth graders for the past five days and I could not help but speculate how much better off some of the young folks would be if they could somehow experience three or four years in the world of the author's hero. I suppose that a book such as this will be the closest they will ever come, which while not perfect, is sure better than nothing. The author has included a very useful and comprehensive glossary in the back of the book. If you have not read this one with your child (ideal age would be between the 3rd and 6th grade), you really need to do so. Actually, you the adult, will probably enjoy it as much as the kid. Antonio's Apprenticeship: Painting a Fresco in Renaissance Italy Don Blankenship The Ozarks
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GLORIOUSLY DETAILED 17TH CENTURY ITALY,
This review is from: The Neptune Fountain: The Apprenticeship of a Renaissance Sculptor (Hardcover)
An enchanting story of a boy's dream and his realization of the importance of patience takes place during alandmark period in art history. The Neptune Fountain/The Apprenticeship of a Renaissance Sculptor by Taylor Morrison recreates seventeenth century Italy in glorious detail. Descriptions of the famous Carrara marble quarries and the painstaking steps involved in creating a sculptural fountain's main figure are vibrantly authentic.
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