Great Pictures and Their Stories, by Katherine Morris Lester, is a series of nine graded art appreciation readers that introduces children to the world's great paintings through the stories they tell. These books are wonderful companions to the Art Education Through Religion curriculum.
Book Five develops students' appreciation of artistic design through paintings such as Franz von Stuck's Spring Dance, George Inness's After a Summer Shower, and Vermeer's Lady with a Lute. As they discover the stories behind these works, students learn to recognize repeated curves, visual rhythm, and the effects of light and atmosphere. They begin to appreciate how an artist's arrangement of shapes, colors, and contrasts can guide the eye and create a particular mood.
Throughout the series, students learn about the artists and their works, exploring how color, line, light, and composition help communicate a story. Many paintings also offer glimpses into other cultures, historical periods, and places, while suggested musical selections occasionally enrich the experience. The lessons grow in sophistication as the child progresses through the nine levels.
Our editions are high-quality facsimiles of the original books, preserving their text and layout while replacing the original artwork with larger, clearer, and more vibrant reproductions. This allows students to appreciate more fully the details discussed in the lessons.
Save 15% when you purchase the complete nine-volume collection of Great Pictures and Their Stories!
Note to Parents: We chose to reproduce this series because it comes highly recommended by readers and educators, past and present, and because it complements the Catholic art curriculum Art Education Through Religion, which we have also restored.
Those familiar with us as a publisher of Catholic books should be aware that this series was not originally produced by a Catholic publisher and does not have an imprimatur. The religious context of certain artworks, ranging from ancient Greek mythology to Native American spirituality, is presented without reference to Christian belief, although works depicting Christian themes are discussed with devotion.
Our research indicates that these books were widely used in American classrooms for many years, and the series has also found a place in Charlotte Mason education. We believe the wholesomeness of the series continues to recommend it strongly to families.
5.8" x 8.3" paperback 124 pages
