- Those who love art history see Giorgio Vasari as its first historian. He writes his three-volume history in the greatest city of the Renaissance—Florence.
- Vasari makes Renaissance artists the rock stars of his day. He can write about artists because he is a friend to many artists. His best friend was none other than Michelangelo.
- Vasari himself is an accomplished artist. He makes oil paintings and does ceiling frescoes, he designs bridges and marketplaces, and he writes about the artists he knows who live during this special time in the world of art.
- His art history covers the lives and work of over 300 artists in Italy and Northern Europe. For some of the artists he wrote about, we know little about them except for the stories that Vasari hears and writes in his book.
- Sometimes Vasari exaggerates. Sometimes he embellishes the quality of the work. The artists emerge larger than life. For the society of his day, they are. Yet, in the telling of gossip and rumors, Vasari gives a wonderful picture of the characters of the artists and tells all sorts of amusing stories. He describes their work as only another artist could.
- Vasari publishes Lives of the Artists in 1550. He writes about painters, architects, and sculptors who live in Italy and Northern Europe during the period we know as the Renaissance.
Introduction to Renaissance Art History
Vasari's Rock Stars of the Renaissance
Explore the True, Good, and Beautiful
Dive into the art history series for independent learners. We begin with the greatest era of art history—the Renaissance. This addition to your homeschool curriculum will introduce young learners to a special era of art history. The Renaissance comes first because it produced the greatest artists who depicted the greatest subjects with the greatest skills. Meet Giorgio Vasari who wrote the first book of art history. As a gift to introduce the series, download a free coloring page of paintings by Botticelli or Della Francesca.
Each book is filled with fun and educational activities for students. Your young learner will write a short essay, do a coloring page, or answer short questions. Your homeschooler will understand the scientific basis of art in ways they are eager to pursue.
