Art History & Appreciation

Store Location

There are works of art so inherently beautiful or stunning that anyone looking at them ends up choking back tears, or standing transfixed, or simply unable to breathe for several seconds. What you won't often hear is that those are the exceptions, that most paintings, buildings and sculptures require anterior knowledge to be fully appreciated.

Once you know what to look for, the once-abstruse and confusing world of chiaroscuro, Pre-Raphaelite, and oxidation fire becomes navigable and even a welcome place from the ho-hum mundanities of the everyday world. Though, of course, we'd be the last to encourage art appreciation for mere escapism—if a work can't reveal some element of human nature or help us understand things a little better, it isn't worth much.

This is one reason a lot of modern art can't really be considered art at all. It isn't intended to reveal anything, but simply to be "living commentary," a mere reflection, not of reality, but of the artist's inner conflict or angst. Sometimes it's not even that deep, and simply reflects the belief that there is no meaning in the world, that everything is empty, that nihilism is the only truth.

We reject those claims entirely. Everything is meaningful because Christ has made it so. Taken too far that idea is sometimes used to defend all kinds of non-art and just plain bad art, but all it really means is that everything is either consistent with or in rebellion against God's truth, and that artistic endeavours reveal which side the artist is on.

For Christians, understanding art from this perspective should be the primary motive in studying anything from the Sistine Chapel to Rembrandt's portraits to the illustrations of N.C. Wyeth. Art has the potential to entertain and delight, but it also affects the attitudes and thoughts of those who come in contact with it. Understanding a work's context and significance will immensely help us determine whether it's beneficial or pernicious.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

Did you find this review helpful?

Parent Categories

Anthropology

Cultural History

Art History & Appreciation

Home Schooling

Art & Music Education

Art Resources

Art History & Appreciation

Art History & Appreciation

Subcategories by Grade

1st grade (Ages 6-7)

2nd grade (Ages 7-8)

3rd grade (Ages 8-9)

Subcategories

Artists & Illustrators

Come Look With Me

Masters of Art

58 Items found Print

Active Filters:

4th grade (Ages 9-10),

Used Books & Materials

	American Art History Volume II by Kristin Draeger from ArtK12 for 3rd-10th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $33.96 $27.00 (1 in stock)
	Ancient Egyptian Art by Susie Hodge First Printing for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Ancient Greek Art Art in History by Susie Hodge from Heinemann Educational Books for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Art and Civilization: Ancient Rome Art and Civilization by Giovanni Di Pasquale & Matilde Bardi from Peter Bedrick Books Roman History Reference for 4th-6th grade in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $9.00 (2 in stock)
	Art for Children: Renaissance Invention of Perspective Art for Children by Lillo Canto from Chelsea House Publishing Art Appreciation for 4th-6th grade in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN) $20.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Art of the Southeastern Indians by Shirley Glubok from Macmillan for 3rd-6th grade in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Art of the Spanish in the United States and Puerto Rico by Shirley Glubok from Macmillan for 2nd-6th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Art of the Woodland Indians by Shirley Glubok from Macmillan for 4th-6th grade in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Art Smart: Spot the Details and Find Out the Facts Act from Dover Publications for 1st-7th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $9.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Baby Blessing by Welleran Poltarnees from Laughing Elephant for Kindergarten-Adult in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Carl Larsson's A Home by Carl Larsson and Lennart Rudstrom from G.P. Putnam's Sons for 3rd-Adult in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Diego Rivera Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Discovering Great Artists (old) Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters by MaryAnn F. Kohl & Kim Solga from Bright Ring Publishing for Preschool-6th grade in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Drawing American Art Volume II by Kristin Draeger from ArtK12 for 3rd-10th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $25.46 $20.00 (1 in stock)
	Edgar Degas Artists Through the Ages by Alix Wood from Windmill Books for 2nd-5th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	El Greco by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 2nd-5th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	First Starry Night by Joan Shaddox Isom from Charlesbridge for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Giotto Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	God & the History of Art - Package by Barry Stebbing from How Great Thou Art for 4th-12th grade in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA) $40.00 (1 in stock)
	God & the History of Art - Postcards by Barry Stebbing from How Great Thou Art for 4th-12th grade in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Grandma Moses Painter of Rural America Women of Our Time by Zibby Oneal, illustrated by Donna Ruff from Puffin Books for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Henri Matisse by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	History of Art - Flashcards Creation to Contemporary from Veritas Press for 2nd-7th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $29.00 $17.50 (1 in stock)
	Horse in Art by Ruth Zuelke from Lerner Publishing Group for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	How Artists See Feelings by Colleen Carroll 1st Library Ed from Abbeville Press for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	How Artists See the Elements by Colleen Carroll from Abbeville Press for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $5.00 (2 in stock)
	In Search of Norman Rockwell's America by Photography by Kevin Rivoli, Artwork by Norman Rockwell from Howard Books for 3rd-Adult in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Jackson Pollock by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	John Audubon Young Naturalist Young Patriots series by Miriam E. Mason from Patria Press, Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Joke's on George by Michael O. Tunnell; illustrated by Kathy Osborn from Tambourine Books for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Kindergarten Art Posters from Memoria Press for Kindergarten-12th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $25.00 (1 in stock)
	Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd 1^st edition from Dutton Children's Books for 3rd-5th grade 2004 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Lives of the Artists by M. B. Goffstein from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 3rd-8th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Looking at Painting: Families by Peggy Roalf from Hyperion/Madison Press for 3rd-7th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Mary Cassatt Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press Picture Book Biography for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Matisse: Painter of the Essential Art for Children by Yolande Baillet from Chelsea House Publishing for 3rd-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Michelangelo Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press Picture Book Biographies for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch, Illustrated by Norman Rockwell from Reader's Digest for 3rd-Adult in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Norman Rockwell: Storyteller with a Brush by Beverly Gherman from Atheneum for 3rd-7th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Pablo Picasso Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Paul Gauguin Artists Through the Ages by Alix Wood from Windmill Books for 2nd-5th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Picture This! Activities and Adventures in Impressionism Art Explorers by Joyce Raimondo from Watson-Guptill Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Pierre-Auguste Renoir Art for Children by Ernest Raboff from HarperTrophy for 3rd-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Paintings That Smile by True Kelley from Grosset & Dunlap for 3rd-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $2.80 (2 in stock)
	Prehistoric Art by Susie Hodge for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Raphael Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Rembrandt Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Rousseu: Still Voyages Art For Children by Didier Grosjean and Claudine Roland, illustrated by Francine De Boeck, translated by John Goodman from Chelsea House Publishing for 3rd-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Roy Lichtenstein Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia from Children's Press Picture Book Biography for 3rd-5th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Understanding Modern Art by Monica Bohm-Duchen and Janet Cook, illustrated by David Gillingwater from Usborne for 4th-8th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Usborne Children's Book of Art by Rosie Dickins from Usborne for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $9.50 (2 in stock)
	Usborne Children's Book of Art An Introduction to Famous Paintings by Rosie Dickins from Scholastic Press for 4th-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $7.50 (2 in stock)
	Usborne Introduction to Modern Art by Rosie Dickins from Scholastic Press for 3rd-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Usborne Introduction to Modern Art by Rosie Dickins from Usborne for 3rd-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Vincent Van Gogh Art for Young People by Peter Harrison from Sterling Publishing Co. for 4th-7th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Wit and Whimsy of Mary Engelbreit by Mary Engelbreit from Andrews McMeel for 3rd-Adult in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Work of Art Creative Activities Inspired by Famous Artists by Joan Chambers, Molly Hood and Michael Peake from Belair Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	World of Art Exploring International Art by Sharon Jeffus & Jamie Aramini from My Father's World for 2nd-5th grade in My Father's World (Location: CUR-MFW) $14.00 (1 in stock)

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Connect