Quicklinks
High Drama and Quiet Lives (pages 42-53)
Websites to visit
See more paintings by Velazquez
Scroll down and click on a painting.
Study another picture by Vermeer
Click on the picture to study it section by section.
Watch videos exploring two paintings by Rembrandt
Scroll down and click on the pictures by Rembrandt called "The Mill" or "Self-Portrait".
Another flower painting by Ruysch
Use the tools to enlarge the picture or examine details.
More paintings by Gainsborough
Click on the pictures to see larger versions.
Important!
Internet safety
Children, make sure you follow these three simple rules when using the internet:
- Always ask an adult's permission before using the internet.
- Never give out personal information, such as your name, address, school or telephone number.
- If a website asks you to type in your name or email address, check with an adult first.
For more tips, see Internet safety for children.
Adults - we recommend that children are supervised while on the internet. The content of a website may change at any time and Usborne Publishing is not responsible for content on sites other than its own.
For more on internet safety, see Internet advice for adults.
About this book
The story of...
The story of painting
- The story of painting from the dawn of time right up to the present day, illustrated with photographs of famous artworks and humorous cartoons.
- Packed with all sorts of fascinating facts, intriguing tales and tricks of the trade.
- Reveals how the Greeks made waterproof paints, who the iconoclasts were and why they smashed paintings, and the superhuman strengths of Michelangelo.
- Includes a fascinating timeline showing historical events, landmarks in the story of painting and where all the paintings shown in the book fit in.
- With internet links to recommended websites with online galleries and fun art activities.
Press Reviews
Books purporting to give a 'story of painting' or 'history of Art' are very common. Can there really be a market for another? Yes, when it's a charming as this one. It does not go into any particular depth. It's clearly designed for KS2 and the lower-ability KS3 pupil. But it's concise, easy to read, visually appealing and arranged in a logical sequence that is both chronological and thematic. The book is illustrated with a combination of full-colour reproductions of famous paintings, and lively drawings. It's a smaller-format book, not A4, which does cramp the paintings slightly but this size is ideal for smaller hands to cope with.This book's main strength is the addition of many little snippets of extra information. It is not a dry and dull recital of the timeline of Western art; it's got that human touch which appeals to all, young and old. It gives little hints on the symbolism of painting, for example, which is a whole term's work in itself if you pursue it. Little cartoons show you about lapis lazuli, or monks sewing books together, or paint tied up in pigs' bladders.
Write Away Website
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PDF links
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Sound files
Sound files should play on a computer, tablet or smartphone. If you have difficulty, make sure you have the most up-to-date version of your web browser, or on a desktop computer, download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player (see Technical help).
Midi files
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