Wallace Collection Children's Art Book – Review
Titian, Hals, Fragonard, Gainsborough – Art for Young People
Aug 21, 2009
Any adult wishing to give a young child a sound introduction to art will be pleased to discover a 48-page publication entitled The Wallace Collection Children's Art Book, by Emmajane Avery, Head of Learning at the Wallace Collection.
The book is aimed at children aged seven years and upwards. Its easy-going humour, style and language can be enjoyed with or without parental guidance. The publication starts by taking the reader on a tour of the Wallace Collection. It then examines various items including paintings, furniture and decorated objects, through themes guaranteed to appeal to younger people.
Children's Art Book – About the Publication
The publication opens with a Foreword by Dame Rosalind Savill, Director of the Wallace Collection. She discusses a young child's first experience of something like The Laughing Cavalier and how their view might change as they learn about art.
The remainder of the book is divided into small child-friendly sections. Emmajane Avery engages the reader in a series of thought-provoking and appropriate activities. She encourages children to engage with the art, to use their eyes, and to think about what they are looking at. The author also provides several "Did you know?" boxes, which feature short, highly readable art history lessons.
Looking at the titles of some of these chapters it is easy to see why this book should appeal to the art lovers of tomorrow.
- Kings, Queens and Important People. In this chapter Emmajane Avery presents a portrait of Louis XV from the Studio of Louis-Michel Van Loo (ca.1760). She tells them about the items, such as crowns, sceptres and ermine robes that show that this is a king. The chapter also features Thomas Lawrence's George IV (1822), Thomas Sully's Queen Victoria (1838) and Van der Meulen's Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (ca. 1560-65).
- Enjoying Yourself. In this section Avery presents images that show people having a good time, such as The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard (1767). Avery explains that when this painting was produced a style known as Rococo was very popular. The author gives an appropriate explanation of the main features of Rococo.
- Children and Young Children. This chapter cannot fail to interest young readers. Avery presents paintings of children and invites readers to think about how life styles and fashions have changed. This section also features Thomas Gainsborough's Miss Haverfield (ca. 1780) and Prince Baltasar Carlos in Silver by Diego Velasquez (1633).
- Showing Off. Today's children, and some adults, like nothing better than showing off. This chapter features Frans Hal's The Laughing Cavalier (1624) with his whimsical smile. Avery explains that the artist is showing off. He is displaying several different types of painting. For example, the lace cuff on the cavalier's wrist is very precisely painted, while the ruff around his neck is created in a free and easy manner.
- Heroes and Monsters. Avery explores a story that always appeals to youngsters: St. George and the Dragon. She shows how the story has appeared in sculptures and as decoration for furniture and other items. This chapter also explores Titian's Perseus and Andromeda (1554-56).
The Wallace Collection Children's Art Book is published by The Wallace Collection (2009) and priced at £6.99, paperback, ISBN: 978 0 900785 90 0.
Further information about the museum can be obtained from the Wallace Collection.
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