May Staff Picks: Artist Biographies

"The biography, as a literary form, has its earliest precedent in ancient Egyptian tomb writing. Narrative prayers were incised on tombs of wealthy court officials describing their life and the offerings he and his family would receive in death. During the European middle ages an offshoot of the genre, hagiography, where the lives of saints, martyrs, and church officials, along with their associated miracles were written. The first major biography in Europe about living, secular individuals not associated with royalty would be written during the Italian Renaissance with Giorgio Vasari’s 1550 publication, The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, often referred to as the first modern art historical text. This text, along with those biographies that preceded it, were considered a part of historical writing and not as the separate literary genre we consider biographies today. This change would occur in the 18th century with James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791). That same century also saw modern children’s literature take shape, due likely to the increasing rise of literacy and the Lockean idea of childhood as a distinct stage of human development that needs to be nurtured.

Biography and children’s literature are merged in this selection of 16 picture books about the lives of artists. Focusing on the lives of artists deliberately recalls Visari’s seminal biographical work and shows the evolution of the genre’s form. The selections range from autobiographical memoir, where the artist, author, and illustrator are one. Others show the creative choices authors and illustrators have to make when depicting the work of artists. The latter asks some interesting questions about the roles of author and illustrator in a picture book about visual artists. Do the illustrations in the book mirror the style of the artist described therein or is the illustrator’s own style prioritized? How do these choices impact your reading of the book?"

-- Ralph Baylor

Artist Biographies is curated by Ralph Baylor, Head of Reference and Readers Services, and designed by Sandra Pomeleo-Fowler, Library Associate / Art and Design.

Staff Picks is curated and designed each month by the Gottesman Libraries' staff to highlight resources on educational topics and themes of special interest. 

Where: Reading Room, Second Floor