Living Biographies of Great Painters

By: Henry Thomas, Dana Lee Thomas

Narrated by: Pat Bottino

To appreciate the meaning and beauty of great works of art, we must be familiar with the lives of the geniuses who created them. For in the personalities and life stories of great artists is the key to their masterpieces.

Here are vivid stories of men who dreamed, struggled, and suffered so that they might give expression to their divine gifts. And here are also frank stories of human beings, many of whom lived exciting lives of romance and adventure. These are Living Biographies, and they have the fascination of fiction illumined and strengthened with the permanent appeal of historical fact.

©1940 Garden City Publishing Co. Inc. (P)1996 Blackstone Audiobooks

skip this book unless you missed art 101

If you want a very quick overview of artist lives this is for you. A good one to put by your bed to make you go to sleep. Good reader.

Not for the visually educated

If you are quite unfamiliar with the history of Western painting, you are certain to learn a few things - and perhaps this would be an economical way to learn them. But if you do know the basics of Western art, you won't learn much. Many stale anecdotes are re-told, and in nearly case the biography begins with economic distress and final economic vindication. Compared to most audio books, the reader of this book has an unusually flat delivery. One gets used to it, but it takes some doing.

Speculation

The book had more speculation than actual facts. It was not engaging and the narration was tedious.