Milda, Master Michel, and I

Michel Sittow (1469-1525) was a Flemish painter who lived and worked in Tallinn.

Anti Saar's book about painter Michel Sittow and the art scene in medieval Tallinn is written in a way that it's interesting for both kids and adults alike. Originally created for Sittow's art exhibition in Modern Art Museum in Tallinn, the book also stands comfortably on it's own, as all the most important paintings are represented and Urmas Viik's illustrations are supporting the overall experience. Two main characters, twins Milda and Mattias are staying with their uncle Teet, an art history student, while their apartment is being renovated. He's an original character in himself as he doesn't have either a TV nor a computer and for bedtime he tells stories about his favourite artist Michel Sittow. He tells about Sittow's childhood, studies abroad, development into a famous artist but also the techniques he used, materials he painted on, etc. Fair amount of time is also spent on medieval environment, clothing syles, traveling during these times. Overall a clever book to give an idea what was it like to be an artist and a citizen of medieval world.