Great artists volume 1

Plato and Aristotle in the School of Athens by Rafael

Biographies of Raphael Santi, Murillo, Peter Paul Rubens, and Albrecht Durer. This is a wonderful tool for art study as there are references for further study, as well as ideas for language arts to incorporate into the study. (Summary by Laura Caldwell for Librivox).

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Internet archive page

To view the illustrations that accompany the text, click here.

You can also listen to this book by clicking play in the box below, or by clicking on the chapter links in this post.

Lady with a Unicorn by Rafael Santi

0 – A Word to the Teacher


1 – Raphael Santi – The Perfect Artist, the Perfect Man

The Little Fruit Seller by Bartolome Esteban Murillo

2 – Murillo and Spanish Art

3 – Peter Paul Rubens

Pope Peter by Rubens


4 – Albrecht Durer and his City
Durer self portrait at 28