Product Description

This accessible book looks at the historical and cultural contexts of art works and architecture around the world from prehistoric times to the 20th century—with detailed and informative analyses of art, artists, patrons, and techniques. Its unique chronological presentation in compact topical units offers an exceptionally easy-to-use format—with general period/style introductions followed by self-contained sections on a selected number of specific representative pieces. The global focus emphasizes the diversity and commonality of the human experience. A fully integrated, chronological history of art covers all periods, places, and arts—including extensive analyses of European art, and some American, African, Mesoamerican, and Asian art—along with thorough coverage of women artists throughout. For those who appreciate art and its history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1023778 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 672 pages

From Publishers Weekly
An odd amalgam, this album is intended as an introductory text in art history or art appreciation. Although not especially successful in its stated aim of achieving a global, comparative, chronological overview of world art, it makes provocative juxtapositions. Thus, a Hopi pueblo is set alongside a Frank Lloyd Wright house; an American romantic landscape painting faces an example of Gustave Courbet's realism; a Christian cemetery fresco is counterpoised by paintings from a third-century Jewish synagogue in Mesopotamia. But it is left largely to the reader to supply the connections. Commentaries are sometimes blandly didactic, at other times aptly insightful. In Velazquez's The Water Carrier , we are told, "the simple act of offering, accepting and consuming a glass of water gains dignity and import." Moments like this make the volume worthwhile. Wilkins is director of the University Art Gallery at the University of Pittsburgh; Schultz, an associate arts professor at West Virginia University.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
Featuring an easy-to-use format -- with general period/style introductions followed by self-contained sections on a limited number of specific representative artistic works -- this introduction to art history emphasizes the historical and cultural contexts which help explain the works.

From the Back Cover
This accessible book looks at the historical and cultural contexts of art works and architecture around the world from prehistoric times to the 20th century—with detailed and informative analyses of art, artists, patrons, and techniques. Its unique chronological presentation in compact topical units offers an exceptionally easy-to-use format—with general period/style introductions followed by self-contained sections on a selected number of specific representative pieces. The global focus emphasizes the diversity and commonality of the human experience. A fully integrated, chronological history of art covers all periods, places, and arts—including extensive analyses of European art, and some American, African, Mesoamerican, and Asian art—along with thorough coverage of women artists throughout. For those who appreciate art and its history.

Customer Reviews

A Spectacular Overview of World Art
Art Past Art Present is a college-level survey of human art, from pre-history to present. A very useful, well-organized, and thought-provoking book; it goes beyond being a college text to a handy reference for any art lover. Each topic is covered with two to four pages and often shows modern references to ancient style. Topics range from Paleolithic Paintings to the Great Pyramids, specific artists, styles and techniques, to a decade by decade overview of the 20th century. Hundreds of color photos, well-written summaries; a spectacular overview of world art. This is the sort of book that, as a student, when the class is over, you seriously debate selling the book back.

broken cd
The book wasn't in that bad of shape but the cd rom which I needed for class was demolished