Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 06: Little Journeys to the Homes of Eminent Artists

Elbert Hubbard wrote these biographical sketches in the tradition of the literary pilgrim, journeying in spirit to the homes and hearts of the great artists. This sixth volume in Hubbard's beloved series turns to the Renaissance masters: Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli. Rather than dry academic analysis, Hubbard offers intimate portraits woven from anecdote, historical context, and his own admiration. We learn how Raphael's early years in Urbino shaped his genius, how Leonardo's restless mind moved between art and invention, and how Botticelli's vision emerged from the Florence that shaped him. Hubbard believed understanding the artist's life illuminates the art, and these essays reflect that conviction. Written in 1895, this collection captures a particular moment in American culture when Victorian readers approached the old masters with reverent curiosity. The prose has a warmth and accessibility that more formal art history of the era lacks, making these masters feel knowable rather than remote.