Module 11

Module 11:

Leonardo’s Horse by Jean  Fritz

Summary:

Leonardo’s Horse is about Da Vinci’s lifelong goal to produce a giant horse for the Milan and how he died without completing his personal goal. The story continues well into the 21^st century as fans of Da Vinci try to complete Da Vinci’s dream.

Citation:

Fritz, J. (2001). Leonardo's Horse. New York: Putnam.

Impressions:

This book was not only a great biography of Da Vinci life for all ages but it also does a fantastic job of showing how his dream came to life.

Review:

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-At times sad, silly, and telling, this is a wholly entertaining book. Not only a biography of Leonardo da Vinci, it also introduces another artist/dreamer-Charlie Dent. Although separated by centuries, the two men had a common dream-to create a giant horse for Milan. War and rain helped to ruin Leonardo's original clay work, and he died mourning what might have been. By the 1990s, Dent's efforts to create the horse paid off and the statue, a huge wonder, was presented to Italy. Biographical details of Leonardo's life are mentioned and much of his work is shown throughout the volume, including sketches of the statue. Talbott's mixed-media artwork enhances the engaging text. The Duke of Milan is portrayed gaping at Leonardo's clay model, scarcely able to believe the greatness of it, and there is an informative page of pictures detailing the creation of the statue in eight steps. In one illustration, the artist appears in the center of his Last Supper, attempting to draw Judas, while humorous caricatures fill the bottom of the page. Although there are quite a few books about Leonardo, none delve so deeply into the history of the statue. Even the design of the book is unique. A title that is sure to create a lot of interest among young art, history, and horse lovers.

Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI.  2001 (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Leonardos-Horse-H-Jean-Fritz/dp/0399235760/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291957274&sr=1-1)

Suggestions:

Leonardo’s Horse is a great book to introduce the life and work of Leonardo Da Vinci to any age group. Most people don’t know about Da Vinci’s life long goal of a giant horse for the people of Milan and would be a new and interesting fact to explore with students.