Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids series)

105 Pages·1998·9.79 MB·English

by  Janis Herbert

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Leonardo da Vinci for Kids
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H I S L I F E A N D I D E A S 2 1 A C T I V I T I E S
K i d s
J a n i s H e r b e r t
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© 1998 by Janis Herbert Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
All rights reserved
Herbert, Janis, 1956–
Leonardo da Vinci for kids : his life and ideas : 21 activities /
Janis Herbert. — 1st ed.
First edition
p. cm.
Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated Includes bibliographical references.
Summary : Presents a biography of this prolific artist and
814 N. Franklin Street
inventor through projects in cartography, animal art, bird obser-
Chicago, Illinois 60610 vation, and mask making.
1. Leonardo, da Vinci, 1452–1519—Juvenile literature.
2. Artists—Italy—Biography—Juvenile literature. 3. Creative
ISBN 978-1-55652-298-7 activities and seat work—Juvenile literature. [1. Leonardo, da
Vinci, 1452-1519. 2. Artists. 3. Handicraft.] I. Title.
10 9 8 7 6
N6923.L33H47 1998
709’.2-dc21
Cover design: Sean O’Neill [b] 98-25690
CIP
Cover art courtesy of Wood River Gallery
AC
Interior design: Joan Sommers Design
Printed in Singapore by CS Graphics
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To Jeff
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments viii
Note to Readers ix
Timeline x
A Boy in Vinci
ONE 1
Setting Up Your Studio 2
Observing Nature 3
Brush Up on Birds 4
The Young Apprentice
TWO 7
ABeaker for Brushes 8
Framed! 10
ALife Mask 13
Kitchen Clay 15
Perspective 16
The Renaissance 18
Animal Art 20
Well-Bannered 25
Pinpointing the Vanishing Point 27
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A Genius at Work
THREE 29 AParachute Kite 55
Leonardo’s Letter to Ludovico 30 Restoring The Last Supper 58
Leonardo’s Lute 31 Missiles and Math 60
Mirror Writing 32
ADiscovery Notebook 33 “I Shall Continue.”
FOUR 61
Measuring Up 35
The Nature of Sound 63
The Plague 38
Art Detectives 64
AMasque of the Planets 40
The Craft of Cartography 65
Leonardo’s Prophecies 41
How Tall Is That Tree? 66
Eye Exercises 42
Simple Machines 68
Leonardo’s Inventions 43
Who Was Mona Lisa? 70
Italy’s Kingdoms and
City-States 44 Looking at Art 72
Leonardo’s Lunch 46 ARenaissance Herb Garden 77
For the Birds 47
Salai’s Aniseed Sweets 49 Glossary 80
Mental Exercise 50 Biographies 82
Leonardo’s Lock 51 Resources 85
Left:Diagram of
Learn a Little Italian 52 Bibliography 87 human proportions,
Flight 54 Credits 88 Leonardo da Vinci,
1492
vii
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Rick Dissen and Andreas Mueller for their contributions to this work and to Sara
Dickinson and Camillo Imbimbo for their advice and support. Many thanks to Joan Sommers
for her design work, which beautifully reflects the spirit of the great artist Leonardo. I am
grateful for the help of my resourceful mother, Ruth Ross; Cynthia Sherry, the most helpful
of editors; talented cover designer Sean O’Neill; and, most of all, my wonderful husband, Jeff.
With thanks and love to you all.
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NOTE TO READERS
See the glossary on page 80 for an explanation of terms used in this book that you may be
unfamiliar with. In the biography section beginning on page 82, you will find additional infor-
mation about historical figures and Renaissance artists who are referred to in the book.
There is also a resource section on page 86 that lists interesting web sites related to da Vinci
and his interests, and museums around the world where you can see his paintings.
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