Figure 1.--Rubens was born in Antwerp to a family with substantial means. His mother wanted him to be a courtier and at the age of 13 sent him to be a page for an elderly Princess, Marguerite de Ligne. As Aitchison's amusing illustration shows, Ruben found this to be uninteresting. . |
Besides it popular 'Key Words Reading Scheme', Ladybird also had series books with covered educational topics which would have assisted students in the subjects they were studying. One series (of many) was 'Great Artists'. This was covered over two books (of I know of) and it has thumbnail sketches of world renowned artists of Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer. Text is by Dorothy Aitchison with superb illustrations by Martin Aitchison. Rubens (1577-1640) was born in Antwerp to a family with substantial means. His mother wanted him to be a courtier and at the age of 13 sent him to be a page for an elderly Princess, Marguerite de Ligne. As Aitchison's amusing illustration shows, Ruben found this to be uninteresting. He had already shown from a young age to have a talent for drawing. Raphael (1483-1520) was born in a hill city of Urbino, Italy. He had already as a young adult, had painted world renowned masterpieces.
Amongst many other achievements, Raphael was second to Michelangelo to work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Aitchison's engaging illustration shows him as a child in the city of Urbino. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was born in Florence. He was one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance. Leonardo was passionately interested with natural phenomena. Here Aitchison shows the young Leonardo, to the dismay of his father, trying to paint a monster belching smoke on shield whilst surrounded with his decaying collection of insects and wildlife.
Leonardo da Vinci was born in Florence. He was one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance. Leonardo was passionately interested with natural phenomena. Here Aitchison shows the young Leonardo, to the dismay of his father, trying to paint a monster belching smoke on shield whilst surrounded with his decaying collection of insects and wildlife.
Raphael was born in a hill city of Urbino, Italy. He had already as a young adult, had painted world renowned masterpieces. Amongst many other achievements, Raphael was second to Michelangelo to work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Aitchison's engaging illustration shows him as a child in the city of Urbino.
Rubens was born in Antwerp to a family with substantial means. His mother wanted him to be a courtier and at the age of 13 sent him to be a page for an elderly Princess, Marguerite de Ligne. As Aitchison's amusing illustration shows, Ruben found this to be uninteresting (figure 1). He had already shown from a young age to have a talent for drawing.
HBC readers intereted in art may want to look intothe information collected on art and artists. Some of the most reliable information on boys fashions in the years
before photography (mid-19th Century) was developed were paintings and drawings. Even after the commercial development of photography in the 1840s, it is paintings that provide details on color as well as settings in context that provide valuable insights into fashions and how they were worn. Photography until the turn of the 20th Century was generally limited to a photographer's studio and it was not until the 1950s that color photographs become widely available. We have also collected information on the childhood expeiences of many artists.
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