Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
It is Paris in the 1400s. A young girl named Marguerite delights in assisting her father, Jacques, in his craft—illuminating manuscripts for the nobility of France. His current commission is a splendid book of hours for his patron, Lady Isabelle, but will he be able to finish it in time for Lady Isabelle's name day?
In this richly illustrated tale, Marguerite comes to her father's aid by secretly completing his commission. She journeys all over Paris buying goose feathers for quills, eggs for mixing paints, dried plants and ground minerals for pigments, and gold leaf; then she expertly finishes the illumination of Lady Isabelle's book, to the pleasure of her father and his patron.
Ages eight and up.
Bruce Robertson, professor of art history at the University of California at Santa Barbara, was inspired by an illuminated manuscript in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum. Kathryn Hewitt, whose exquisite, finely detailed paintings bring this book to life, has illustrated numerous volumes for children, including Lives of the Artists, Lives of the Presidents, and Flower Garden.
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"Beautifully rendered, with jewel-like colors and gold leaf details that make the pages sparkle."
—Booklist
"A cleverly concealed art lesson. The gilded illustrations…would do a real manuscript illuminator proud."
—Horn Book Guide
"Imparts a wealth of information on 15th-century book illumination…offers realistic watercolors that give a lively sense of the bustling Paris of nearly 600 years ago."
—Publishers Weekly
"Elegant words and pictures."
—Parade
"What a wonderful way to teach art history to children."
—Orange County Register
48 pages
9 x 11 inches
46 color illustrations
ISBN 978-0-89236-372-8
hardcover
Getty Publications
Imprint: J. Paul Getty Museum
1999
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