love2learn.net

This Catholic Art text, intended for the eighth grade, offers thirty-six weeks of lessons in art appreciation, with an emphasis on religious art. The text presents 152 images (in full-color on glossy paper) which cover many of the basic schools and famous artists (in chronological order). Descriptions offer biographical sketches of famous artists, explanations of various art forms (such as icons, mosaics, statuary, church architecture, etc.) Although the focus is on religious art, there are a few non-religious subjects as well, such as the cave paintings from Lauscaux, France and The School of Athens by Raphael.

Although the book is intended for eighth grade, it is the sort of book that could be used for a family-wide art study. My five year old son, who is quite the art afficianado, enjoys paging through the book. When asked for a quote about the book, he had this to say: "The pictures are really colorful. It has a Michelangelo picture in it. There's a picture by Leonardo da Vinci in it. There's one by Raphael called The School of Athens. I like it."