The earliest artists wielded bones, pieces of ivory, and wooden sticks to create works that tell us much about how ancient civilizations lived and thought. Today artists are using found objects to make elaborate pieces that are equally revealing. Aimed at young readers, this fascinating book focuses on 13 kinds of artistic materials to trace the development of artistic expression throughout history. Illustrated spreads explore how precious metals and gems were used by ancient Egyptian artisans and how Greek sculptors created beautiful vessels out of clay. It reveals the importance of cast metals to the Romans, and glass to the builders of Gothic cathedrals and Byzantine mosaics. The book also shows how the same materials were used by artists centuries apart: paper as parchment for illuminated manuscripts but also for artist books. Chapters explore the intriguing histories of paint and drawing, ranging from ground pigment to acrylic and from charcoal sticks to pen and ink. Along the way readers will become familiar with celebrated and lesser-known works of art and the people who created them. Informative and entertaining, this latest addition to the 13 Children Should Know series for children reveals how resourcefulness and ingenuity are the artist's most precious tools.