The Art of the Renaissance

Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries was a period of unsurpassed splendor in the history of art. this extraordinary era saw the revival of interest in classical culture and philosophical attitudes, as well as new technical advances in oil painting, architecture and sculpture. It was the age of great artistic geniuses such as Masaccio, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Van Eyck, Durer and Titian. This book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Europe in the age of the Renaissance, from Italian courts, Flemish tapestry workshops and German printworks to English universities, French castles and Spanish ports.

Gr 5-7--An engaging and intelligent treatment of a seemingly overwhelming subject to tackle in so brief a book. It covers 30 topics relevant to the era, such as individual artists (Masaccio and Titian), towns (Milan and Rome), and techniques (oil painting and wood sculpture). Most of them are discussed on double-page spreads, while others are given only one page of coverage. Despite the brevity of each entry, a surprising amount of solid information is conveyed. A typical entry consists of an introductory paragraph; a large illustration; and three-to-eight smaller illustrations, photographs, and full-color reproductions (along with accompanying captions). For example, the entry on wood sculpture features a paragraph about this art form's leading practitioners and showcases an altarpiece created by Veit Stoss. It includes a picture of the piece under construction, several explanatory captions, plus smaller drawings that illustrate the carving process step-by-step, a photograph of the Bamberg altar, and a short biography of Veit Stoss. With its attractive layout, this title does a fine job of introducing young readers to this period in art history, but the information covered only scratches the surface. Therefore, it is best used as an elementary overview rather than as a definitive source for reports.

Melissa Hudak, Northern Illinois Medical Center, McHenry, IL

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