Francisco Goya (Artists Through the Ages)

From its almost-square size to its notepad-paper sidebars, the design of the Artists through the Ages series is more about being approachable than elegant. Moving quickly through Goya’s long and productive life, Wood incorporates a lot of names, dates, and facts as well as insights into Goya’s work. Each spread covers a different subject, such as “Royal Success” or “Goya’s Legacy.” The text touches on the variety of Goya’s work, including tapestry design, altarpiece paintings, large-scale portraits, etchings, firsthand images of the 1908 Peninsular War, and frescoes. The reproductions of Goya’s work are acceptable for this introduction but not particularly vivid; other design elements frequently cover up some small part of the paintings. Still, a solid introduction to an astonishing painter for an unusually young age group. Grades 3-6. --Abby Nolan