THE RAINBOW BOOK OF ART

by Thomas Craven ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 16, 1956

An impressive achievement, this big art treasury for the early teens. In view of its scope, the author has avoided most of the dangers of oversimplification. For most parents it meets the need for a key to the world of art. In the main, the critics will be among those who are not seeking that key, and to them it may seem occasionally misleading in its too categorical statements of fact. Thomas Craven -- well known in his field as art critic and already a writer on art who has succeeded in bringing understanding to many uninformed -- here gives us a highly readable text, and judicious selection of illustrations (32 in full color, over 350 in half tone and line). He has included painting, sculpture and architecture, from the cave man's art to Frank Lloyd Wright. This will assuredly stimulate interest in a subject on which few schools provide that stimulus. The famous periods are here:- Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and on up through the 19th century French paintings and the modern trends. Within each the arts and their masters are related as closely as possible both to their own cycles and the social and historical factors affecting them. It is here that Craven ventures to state as fact what some would question as matters of opinion, but at an interest level where there is little background to work against, this seems inevitable. The handling should bring on discussion and provide a leavening influence. Wonderful value at this price.

Pub Date: April 16, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: World

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1956

Categories: NONFICTION