Product Description

The market-leading text for the art history survey course, GARDNER'S ART THROUGH THE AGES has served as a comprehensive and thoughtfully crafted guide to the defining phases of the world's artistic tradition. With this book in hand, thousands of students have watched the story of art unfold in its full historical, social, religious, economic, and cultural context, and thus deepened their understanding of art, architecture, painting, and sculpture. By virtue of its comprehensive coverage, strong emphasis on context, and rich, accurate art reproductions, GARDNER'S ART THROUGH THE AGES has earned and sustained a reputation of excellence and authority. So much so, that in 2001, the Text and Academic Authors Association awarded both the McGuffey and the "Texty" Book Prizes to the Eleventh Edition of the text. It is the first art history book to win either award and the only title ever to win both prizes in one year. The Twelfth Edition maintains and exceeds the richness of the Gardner legacy with updated research and scholarship and an even more beautiful art program featuring more color images than any other art history book available. The Twelfth Edition features such enhancements as more color photographs, a stunning new design, and the most current research and scholarship. What's more, the expanded ancillary package that accompanies GARDNER'S ART THROUGH THE AGES, features a wealth of tools to enhance your students' experience in the course. With each new copy of the book, students receive a copy of the ArtStudy 2.0 CD-ROM--an interactive electronic study aid that fully integrates with the Twelfth Edition and includes hundreds of high-quality digital images, plus maps, quizzes, and more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10839 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1150 pages

About the Author
Fred S. Kleiner received his Ph.D. in art history and archaeology from Columbia University. Author of more than a hundred publications on classical art and architecture, he also served as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Archaeology from 1985-1998. He has taught the art history survey course for more than a quarter century at the University of Virginia and at Boston University, where he is currently Professor of Art History and Archaeology. Long recognized for his inspiring lectures and devotion to students, in 2002, Professor Kleiner received Boston University's Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching as well as the College Prize for Undergraduate Advising in the Humanities.

Customer Reviews

Excellent introduction to art history
I first used Gardner's Art Through the Ages for my AP art history class back in high school, and I still refer to it sometimes for my college art history courses. It goes over a huge array of artists and periods (both in the Western and non-Western traditions) and is helpful if you need to find some general information or refresh your memory. The picture reproductions are very good (if not slightly dark).

Be aware that this book will sometimes not provide in-depth explanations for all of its subjects; however, this text is a firm foundation of knowledge for beginner art history students. Highly recommended.

Still a great book
For those who are new to art history and need a good overview, Gardner has always been a great place to start. It and Janson's History of Art are the books most often used for introductory art history classes, and you can see why: Garner gives a really broad and understandable overview of thousands of years of art history. Plus, nearly all of the book's illustrations are in color, which is a very rare thing for any art history book.

My only criticisms are for more advanced students of art history. First of all, if you've got the 11th edition, don't worry about getting the 12th - the new edition makes relatively small changes to the old version, adding more color pictures as well as the CD-ROM. And those who already have a good knowledge of art history may want to look elsewhere - being such a wide survey, "Art Through the Ages" doesn't have time to go into a lot of the little details and lesser-known pieces that make art history so fun.

Gardner's Works Wonders
I'm an AP Art History student in high school, and I fully recommend Gardner's; I bought this book for my personal library. Not only is it an easy read, it's interesting, engaging and informative. In each chapter it covers the social, political, and economical characteristics and all the attributes that affected the art styles of the particular period; not only is the information concise and detailed, it's generalized enough so not to be boring or flood you with too much information.
The pictures and diagrams are in high-quality, color representations with easy to understand reference numbers and information. Only a few pictures are in black and white either because of original colors of the piece or the work is better represented that way. The CD is easy to use, and great for reviewing the pieces and related information for tests, or memorization.
The glossary, index and guide to pronuncing artists' names are comprehensive and easy to understand.
I also recommend the accompanying study guide by Kathleen Cohen (the author might differ for other editions), it stresses the right information.
GET THIS BOOK! It works wonders, currently I have the highest grade in the class with a 103% because of the quality of this book.