Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velasquez

If you have a young child, work with children or care for someone's child you may consider looking into the fine series of art books geared for youngsters by Ernest Raboff. Although the books are childrens art books most people in general can benefit from the series. This particular book is about one of the great Spanish painters who was the royal court painter of King Phillip IV. The author, Ernest Raboff does an excellent job of teaching a young student of art how to examine a piece of art. He begins the book by giving a brief biography of Velasquez so that the student or child understands the historical relevance of the painter. Raboff in his writting has a significant word or phrase in a different bright color for emphasis. For example, he states that Vaelasquez "painting showed both the REALITY and the DREAMS of his times." This emphasis of words allows for futher expalnation of the concepts. Roboff expalins and leads in the examination of the individual paintings or details from a painting by pointing out who to look at " FORM by FORM , LINE by LINE, and COLOR by COLOR." He explains how seperate scenes within a painting can be viewed by relating shapes and color. Raboff goes on to explain the use of light and how Velasquez was a master of contrast and perfect balance and use of glowing yellow. The author in essence explains how to gaze and have a visual sweep of the painting. Many painting are featured that are housed in the Prado in Madrid, Spain including the famous "Las Meninas" or as it is known in English "The Maids of Honor. " The pages in the book vary with text on any given page but usually there is just enough to guide you in the viewing of the painting. There are approximately twenty seven pages so the lesson can be given in one sitting. This book would work well with limited English language profeciency students. Naturally this book is very beneficial for a young student of art or someone whom you are trying to expose to one of lifes pleasures of expression and one of it's greatest artists. Great stuff for all but especially the young artist.