Toulouse-Lautrec: The Moulin Rouge and the City of Light

by Robert Burleigh

Accompanied by stunning reproductions, posters, and drawings, a fascinating glimpse into the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec details how he overcame a childhood disease to become a legendary artist.

Genres: Art, Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Over the past 35 years, I have published poems, reviews, essays, many filmstrips and videos, and more than 40 children's picture books.

Born and raised in Chicago, I graduated from DePauw University (Greencastle, Indiana) and later received an MA in humanities from the University of Chicago. I've published books for children since the early 1990s. My books - including numerous unpublished ones! - run a broad gamut, from stories geared for pre-schoolers to survival stories and biographies aimed at seven to eleven-year-olds. My work is wide-ranging because, basically, I'm a generalist by experience - and inclination!

In addition to writing, I paint regularly under the art name Burleigh Kronquist and have shown work in one-person and group shows in Chicago, New York, and elsewhere around the country.

-from robertburleigh.com

Reviews

[Adia]

a children's' book, and as such does not focus on the darker aspects of Lautrec's life (e.g., his alcoholism, early death, etc). a good biography, complete with the more famous of Lautrec's works and photographs.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book first after reading Christopher Moore's book "Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Arte" because I was fascinated with Moore's interpretation of Henri Toulouse-Latrec and wanted to find out more. Before delving into a thick academic book, which I also got, I decided to see how a children's nonfiction author would handle the artist. I was honestly wondering if would be possible to pull a book like this off, especially as a book for older elementary school children, without going into a discussion about drugs, alcohol and sex, three things which let's face it did influence Toulouse-Lautrec's artwork. I thought the author did an good job at explaining the basics about Toulouse-Lautrec's life. He was a considered a dwarf because of a hereditary bone condition and having broke both his legs as a child and they never healed properly, so the man was not quite five feet tall. Despite this, as the book explains, he was quite popular with everyone and very entertaining. Even though he came from an aristocratic family, he painted everyday scenes of contemporary Parisian life, such as the people that went to the various dance halls and circuses of the time, which were the main source of entertainment for those that lived in and around Montmartre. The amount of artwork the artist did in a 15 year period is mind-blowing. Very well-researched book, and the author does explain a bit more about the artist in the author's note in the back, along with a thorough bibliography. I am very interested in learning much more about Toulouse-Lautrec in the future. Recommended for ages 9-12, 4 stars.

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

An oversized book and a nice little overview of Lautrec's short life (He died at 38 and was a prolific worker. ) I checked these books out mainly to go over the font styles again for future posters. I have read of his life in my past, and again not that long ago. One of the more fascinating contemporary periods in recent world life. Life's bazaar.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being one of my favorite painters, I feel Burleigh captured the life/society of Lautrec as thoroughly as he could have for the age group this book is written for. Loved the photos from the time and, of course, the intro to this artist's works.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique biography, focuses on the painting as well as the man.