Customer Reviews

The Neptune Fountain: The Apprenticeship of a Renaissance Sculptor

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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

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

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.

Morrison has captured the essence of the apprenticeship program in Renaissance Italy. Illustrated and written by Morrison, the book describes the process used in sculpting massive pieces and the quarry process. Fully illustrated in Morrison's inimitible style, this fictionalized account describes the life of a young apprentice in his quest to learn the "art."

Fully illustrated, historical fiction, includes full glossary of art terms used.

Of interest to young artists, Renaissance Italy buffs and children in grades 4-6.