REMBRANDT'S BERET

Tiberius, a Florentine painter, tells his granddaughter the story of the remarkable portrait that has a place of honor in his studio: As a boy, he once spent siesta time accidentally locked in the Uffizi. Wandering into the legendary Hall of the Old Masters, he was fascinated by the portraits: Titian, Caravaggio, Picasso, and many more. Coming to life and climbing from their frames, the artists joked about each other's styles before deciding that Rembrandt should paint Tiberius: Portrait of the Artist as a Very, Very Young Man—wearing Rembrandt's own beret. Variants on the theme of paintings coming to life are now familiar; this one is smoothly told, unobtrusively including a few hints of the painters' characters. Most outstanding are the illustrations: vibrant oils painted with broad, free strokes in the rich tones of the old masters, highlighted with the livelier impressionist palette and with amusing references to well-known works. A fine collaboration from these two brothers. (Picture book. 5-9)