Artists and the Art World
9-12 Age Category
And Picasso Painted Guernica
Alan Serres
Translated from French, Allen & Unwin, (2010)
A truly sumptuous picture book biography about the life of Picasso and
the creation of his anti-war masterpiece Guernica. Picasso's artistic
genius was clear from childhood and his progress is chronicled from the age of
seven, when he produced his first painting of doves which continued throughout his
long career.
Picasso’s massive work Guernica – a 7 metre canvas – was painted in 1937 as a
protest against the bombing of civilians during the Spanish Civil War. Step-by-step,
French author Alain Serres shows how this extraordinary piece of work was
created; from Picasso’s first rough drawing on 1 May 1937 to the finishing touches
on 4 June 1937 when the painting became ready for the world to see.
He skilfully tells the story of Picasso’s life using clear and simple text, while
managing to convey the complex political event that brought about the creation of
Guernica – a dark black and white mass of paint and anguish – and follows
Picasso’s career as he progressed back to the power of colour in his work. The text
is accompanied by high quality colour reproductions of Picasso’s paintings. An
excellent book for use in the classroom as an introduction to Picasso’s work but also
a great cross-over book for older children and adults too.
Great Book of Animal Portraits
Svjetlan Junaković
Translated from Spanish by Mark W. Heslop, OQO Editora, (2007)
Great Animal Portraits is a game between fantasy and reality where
for the first time it is animals that have centre stage in this book
about paintings. Images that may be familiar are turned on their
head and many well-known paintings have undergone a transformation.
Penguin, for example, was unable to refuse the offer of being portrayed by Piero
della Francesca and he appears to have a remarkable likeness to the famous
portrait of Federico de Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. Similarly, the Baboon was
lucky enough to be painted with a red turban by the Dutch painter Jan van Eyck
(Portrait of a Man in a Turban). The portrait of the Sheep looks remarkably similar
to the ‘Study of a Young Woman’ by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and Owl has
an unmistakable likeness to Holbein’s portrait of Henry VIII while the elegant
portrait of the Stoat by Leonardo da Vinci could be the ‘Lady with an Ermine’.
Croatian painter, sculptor and designer Svjetlan Junaković has created this
exceptional gallery where the animals take on the leading role. There are 26
paintings, all remakes of famous masterpieces from the Renaissance to French
Neoclassicism. The pictures are beautifully executed and this book is a great way to
introduce children (and adults) to the history of art.
Visit www.svjetlanjunaković.com for more information.
Linnea in Monet’s Garden
Christina Björk, illustrated by Lena Anderson
Translated from Swedish Joan Sandin, R&S Books, (1987)
Linnea loves flowers and goes to visit the flat of her neighbour, old
Mr. Bloom who used to be a gardener and in his library he has a book
about Monet with pictures of his garden of water lilies and his
paintings. Linnea wants to find out more about the artist and his work so Mr. Bloom
suggests a trip to Paris to visit Monet’s place of birth and the museums where his
paintings are exhibited.
This is a friendly and innovative way of introducing well-known artists and art to
children. (Outside In: Children’s Books in Translation, Milet Publishing, 2005)
Who Can Crack the Leonardo da Vinci Code?
Museum of Adventures
Thomas Brezina, illustrated by Laurence Sartin
Prestel, translated from German by Hannah Sartin, (2005)
Take a journey through the Museum of Adventures with a little dog
called Pablo and travel back in time to meet Leonardo da Vinci to find
out about his paintings and his inventions. Using the Book of Riddles, a mirror and
a hieroglyphic scroll that comes with the book, children can solve the seven riddles
hidden inside the paintings and discover the secret that will save the museum from
some cunning villains.
There are two further titles in the Museum of Adventures series including Who Can
Save Vincent’s Treasure? and Who Can Open Michelangelo’s Seven Seals?
(Outside In: Children’s Books in Translation, Milet Publishing, 2005)
© Outside In: Inside Out, 2012 www.outsideinworld.org.uk
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