Artist of the Reformation: Albrecht Durer
I am a firm believer in the use of biography in teaching history. I'm also something of a barbarian when it comes to art, and so I'm always happy to find a good resource to help teach both history and art appreciation. Joyce McPherson'sArtist of the Reformation: The Story of Albrecht Düreris one of these.  Even I have heard of Albrecht Dürer; I remember seeing two of his works, among the many appearing in this book in black-and-white, before. You probably have, too: a portrait of work-worn, praying hands, and a hare so detailed that it seems you can see every individual hair on its body. I've heard him numbered among Christian artists in a home-school workshop. I've seen him on a timeline, placing his lifetime during the Reformation. But until we readArtist of the Reformationthat's about all I knew about him. The story starts with young Albrecht, a boy of seven, and follows him through his life, concluding shortly before his death. There is also an Epilogue that gives a summary of his life and impact; a list of the illustrations appearing in the book, together with sources; a bibliography including books for young readers; and a page of acknowledgements. From the first page, we read of warm family life, loving parents, wise lessons, and deep and enduring faith passed down through the generations. The writing is so vivid that it is easy to find yourself in the scene, smelling the fresh grass that the artist is sketching, bumping along in a coach on rutted roads, being jostled in a city crowd. This is a story of beauty and love in its highest form, of generosity, of enduring faith, of God's provision. It is also a picture, vividly painted in words, of life during the time of the Reformation. We've been so entranced with the story of Albrecht Dürer, we'll be looking for more biographies from this author. Highly recommended. Tammy Cardwell Product Reviews Eclectic Homeschool Online --Tammy Cardwell