Great Artists

Gr 8 Up—This survey includes primarily painters from the 13th through the 21st century and boasts superb full-color reproductions that show off their creators' brushstrokes and even timeworn flaws on the canvases. Most of the major players are here, as are some lesser-known figures. Each artist is represented by two works and described on a spread that includes a time line to provide helpful context. The brilliant colors don't offset some problems: the artists are presented alphabetically rather than chronologically or stylistically so readers can't get a sense of how painterly vision and techniques evolved over time and were influenced by earlier masters. All but two of the artists are European or American; no minorities or females are included. Often, paintings mentioned in the time lines and/or commentaries are not the ones depicted. The paragraphs are too brief and insubstantial to benefit report writers; some interesting factual tidbits emerge, so browsers' interest may be piqued. Editorial flubs, beginning on the CIP page, and some spurious facts (e.g., not all historians agree that Vermeer even used a camera obscura, let alone "retreated" into one) mar the flow of the text. Another disappointment is the book's failure to indicate where these artworks can be seen. This title is of limited appeal to general audiences because too much prior knowledge is presumed. An additional purchase for larger collections.—Carol Goldman, Queens Library, NY