Art Profiles for Kids

Many people instantly recognize The Scream, a harrowing painting of a person in pain. It appears on countless posters, T-shirts, and coffee mugs. Yet not many people are familiar with the artist, Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. He lost his mother and his sister to tuberculosis; and he was raised by an aunt and his very strict father. With another sister on the verge of mental collapse, Munch became familiar with death and mental anguish at a young age. These feelings are reflected in The Scream and much of his other masterpieces. From his troubles, Munch spawned a new type of art called Expressionism, and produced over 20,000 pieces. Find out how Munch became one of just a handful of artists who has an entire museum devoted exclusively to his works.

A biographical profile of nineteenth century Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh discussing his early struggles his bouts of depression his development as an artist and his posthumous fame. Includes a chronology as well as essays on artists and topics contemporary to Van Gogh.

In this gripping biography of Michelangelo, learn what influenced his art and his actions, and find out why he is still important today.

An introduction into the life and times of Giovanni Antonio Canal, a famous Venetian artist known for his landscapes of Venice.

Files the life of French artist Paul Cezanne highlighting his relationship with Emile Zola childhood struggle with self-doubt and mood swings impressionist paintings and more. Includes a chronology historical time line suggestions for further reading and a glossary.

Profiles the life of impressionist artist Pierre Auguste Renoir highlighting his childhood early career relationship with Claude Monet paintings and more. Includes a chronology historical time line suggestions for further reading and a glossary.

Although Raphael is best remembered today for his Madonna and Child paintings, he was in great demand during his lifetime to paint dukes, counts, and fashionable ladies. Popes, cardinals, and noblemen wanted Raphael to paint frescoes on their walls, design their villas, and decorate their chapels. Raphael spent his childhood in a palace surrounded by art, music and poetry. Called Prince of Painters, he represented the ideal Renaissance Man, expressing the beauty, humanism, and culture that defined the age. Less familiar, yet revealed in this book, is Raphael s love of archaeology and his determination to preserve ancient Roman monuments. His life and art display a knowledge of classical architecture and philosophy. Raphael was amazingly productive in his short life and remains one of history s most admired artists.

A brief biography of seventeenth century Dutch painter Rembrandt that chronicles his life and selected works.

Examines the life and career of French painter Edouard Manet one of the founders of the impressionist movement and includes reproductions of selected works as well as related essays.

Inventor, artist, scientist . . . Leonardo da Vinci's wide-ranging inquisitiveness was the source of his greatest accomplishments and his lifelong financial difficulties, he would get bored quickly and rarely finish his projects. As an artist, only seventeen of his finished works survive, and yet they include two of the most famous paintings in the world: The Last Supper and Mona Lisa. His scientific studies of human anatomy were centuries ahead of their time. And his designs for inventions, such as mechanical flight, foresaw technologies that would not be developed for hundreds of years. Leonardo's achievements make him more than just an important historical figure: He was the ultimate Renaissance man whose achievements inspire both artists and scientists more than 500 years after his death.

In 1868, Impressionist painter Claude Monet was desperate. Though he had been painting for a decade, he was living in poverty. He had to support his girlfriend and infant son on his meager earnings. His relatives refused to help him out, so he begged for money from his friends, telling them that his situation seemed hopeless. Yet just over two decades later, with brisk sales through an art dealer, Monet had become wealthy and famous. People came from all over Europe, and even a few from the United States, to visit him. He lived in comfort for the rest of his life.