Gustav Glows
with Gold is a creative
non-fiction book for children aged 4 – 8 years. Gustav Klimt, a famous Austrian
artist, is fascinated by the power of glittering gold leaf to enhance the
colours, patterns, and form of his artwork. Inspired by the beauty of Byzantine
art and by his own father’s intricate work as a goldsmith, Gustav loved to use
gold leaf in his paintings. Delicately thin sheets of gold leaf are always difficult
to work with, any whisper of air and they take flight. Gustav’s studio is filled with glittering, glowing fragments of gold leaf,
caught by the air, or by his breath, they settle on his clothes, hair, beard,
and even on the fur of his many beloved studio cats. A shy man, Gustav wanted nothing
other than people to love his glowing golden creations, and to be inspired by
them, and they certainly did.

Illustrated by: Patricia Ward