LOOKING AT PICTURES

Art history for the populace is back in vogue; to that end, Richardson explores painted treasures from the National Gallery in London, covering both aesthetic considerations and technical ones, e.g., readers learn not only about perspective and Impressionism, but how paint is mixed and canvases are stretched. She is at her best when divulging little hints that allow readers to comprehend how an artist's style and technique influence the view they see, e.g., Hendrick Avercamp, who could neither speak nor hear, used pinks and browns to create warmth in a winter skating scene that is not a real view, but one he pieced together from drawings. Voake's illustrations are informative and amusing; the full-color reproductions are generally good, with the exception of highlighted areas meant to focus on painting details. Many of these are so small that that readers will only be able to focus on the frustration of not being able to see them more clearly. (Nonfiction. 8+)