Product Description
"Art of Nature" is an astonishing visual record of the exploration of parts of the natural world that had never previously been documented. It features many of the greatest natural history artists of the last 300 years - Merian, Bartram, Ehret, the Bauer brothers, Audubon and Gould. Some were seeking fame as scientists or artists, others sought financial gain or at least the prospect of earning a living in what they loved doing. For some it also provided them with the opportunity to present their view of nature to a wider community. Whatever the reasons, few would have contradicted Humboldt's comment that he was spurred on by an uncertain longing for what is distant and unknown, for whatever excited my fantasy: danger at sea, the desire for adventures, to be transported from a boring daily life to a marvellous world. Continent by continent Judith Magee draws on the unrivalled collections of the Library of the Natural History Museum to illustrate the development of natural history art through the centuries and its crucial role in furthering people's appreciation of nature all around the world. ... Read more

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Aims to provide a comprehensive guide to all forms of pictorial art - from wall and panel paintings to stained glass windows, mosaics and embroidery - and sets them against the historical and theological influences of the age. This study covers the period from 800 to 1200. ... Read more

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This very concise global art history text provides an accessible writing style and an affordable text for your students. Moreover, student access to the premium website, which features a study guide, flashcards, and more, comes with each new copy of the text at no extra charge. ... Read more

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Hailed as the most up-to-date and comprehensive survey published in a single volume, this new revised edition is an authoritative and enlightened account of the history of art. It presents art history as an essential part of the development of humankind, encompassing the arts of Asia, Africa, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas-spanning from the primitive art of hunters 30,000 years ago to the most controversial art forms of today. The text is beautifully and generously illustrated with over 1,400 superb photographs, including architectural plans and color maps ... Read more

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Highlights the history of art, from the Ancient World to the Twentieth Century.It includes illustrations and photos of Egyptian architecture, Greek sculpture, and Renaissance paintings and sculpture. This book explains the different art movements such as Baroque and Neoclassicism, and describes the kinds of materials that were used to create the various works.This book is an ideal study aid for students who must familiarize themselves with major works of art, how they were created, and the affect they had on world history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just Okay...
This concise Art History Guide provides a very basic overview of art through the ages.It's in black and white and the examples are very small.It would be helpful for the Intro to Art History student who needs a basic breakdown of the timeline.As most students will attest, a college level art history course gets kind of overwhelming with all of the details.This book offers a student to take a step back and learn the most important points. ... Read more

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This exploration of the art, culture and society of Etruria takes the reader through the four main periods of creativity: the Villanovan and Orientalizing era, the Archaic era, the Classical era, and the Hellenistic era, when Etruscan art became extinct. ... Read more

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This lushly illustrated book examines the cross-cultural influences and unique artistic dialogue between Hispano and Native American arts in the Southwest over the past 400 years since Spanish colonisation. Insightful essays by historians, artists, and scholars including Estevan Rael-Galvez, Lane Coulter, Enrique R Lamadrid, Marc Simmons, and others, explore the impact of cultural interaction on various art forms including painting, sculpture, metalwork, textiles, architecture, furniture and performance and ceremonial arts. Over 150 art works and photographs gathered from museums across the country are testimony to the unique South-western aesthetic that developed from this dynamic cultural exchange. ... Read more

Product Description
Pop Art: A Critical History chronicles one of the most controversial art movements of the century. The anthology draws from a great range of sources, from the leading art magazines and art historical journals to newspapers and news magazines such as the New York Times, Life, and Newsweek. What emerges from this rich cross-section of critical and journalistic commentary is a fascinating view of the tumultuous rise of Pop art and its establishment as a major force in contemporary art. A broad selection of articles traces the emergence of the movement itself in England and America, as seen through the eyes of the working critics of the day. The focus then narrows to present in-depth writings on the four major Pop artists: Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, James Rosenquist, and Andy Warhol, along with an examination of many other artists involved in the movement. From reviews of the very first shows of many of these artists to interviews with them, to news stories about their collectors and their lifestyles, Pop Art: A Critical History represents the most complete and coherent record of Pop art yet published. The book concludes with an invaluable chronology of the major '60s exhibitions by Pop artists. Among the contributors are Lawrence Alloway, John Coplans, Donald Judd, Max Kozloff, Gerald Nordland, Peter Plagens, Barbara Rose, Robert Rosenblum, John Russell, Gene Swenson, and Sidney Tillim. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The best anthology of its kind
To put it briefly, I concur with the review from the Library Journal which the editor of the book quotes below. This is the best anthology of critical writing on Pop, and it largely supersedes previous ones such as Carol Mahsun's Pop Art: The Critical Dialogue. My only quibble is with the assertion in the editorial introduction that the work of Jim Dine and Tom Wesselmann is somehow "less incisive" (read "less impressive") than that of the "four-headed goliath named Lichtenstein-Oldenburg-Rosenquist-Warhol". It isn't, and neither is it less Pop than that of the goliath.

"Not-to-be-missed anthology.... Highly recommended."
As the editor of this anthology, I wanted to pass on another review that the book has just received. My own quibble with the review from Kirkus is that I don't really understand why they would think that a 400-plus-page anthology of historical articles would be "a cozy read." The purpose of the book is to give a broad and deep view of what critics, journalists and art historians thought about Pop as it developed. It's not meant to be a page turner. It's meant to be a reference work full of useful and interesting pieces, some academic, some not. Here, in its entirety, is what "Library Journal" said:"This not-to-be-missed anthology collects stimulating articles, interviews, and other texts defining 'the phenomenon of Pop.' Madoff contributes a fine introductory overview, then presents 94 critical articles, both negative and positive, on this brash, vulgar, and successful style. Most are culled from contemporary American art magazines and newspapers--sometimes offering monthly entries--during the height of the Pop era of the 1960s. Students and specialists alike will find overlooked or forgotten material here and will especially note that many early discussions still ring true today. The book is divided into five sections: the precursors; reviews of work done from 1962 to 1970; the major artists (Lichtenstein, Oldenburg, Rosenquist, and Warhol); 11 artists on the periphery; and, finally, a few articles from the 1970s to 1990s. Discussions of single artists are most interesting, and Andy Warhol remains a standout. There is heavy reading but also journalistic stylings that will appeal to anyone interested in American culture of the Sixties. Highly recommended.--Mary Hamel-Schwulst, Towson State Univ., Md (LJ 10/1/97)" ... Read more

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"Determinedly and liberatingly inclusive...satisfying and beautifully produced."—Publishers WeeklyThis enlarged vision of American art draws together the many strands of North America's history and visual culture. A tradition once assumed to be mainly European and oriented toward painting and sculpture has been enriched by the inclusion of other media such as ceramics and needlework, as well as the work of previously marginalized groups such as Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans.

For the second edition, the author has updated and expanded the text, and has significantly increased the coverage of architecture.
685 illustrations, 348 in color ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book on American Art
This book is extremely well written, well rounded, and well researched.A great book for a art history student or someone who is just curious because it examines the subject matter from several points of view - not just the standard white male version of history.Folks that are normally breezed by in other texts are discussed here in length - finally!I loved reading this book and gaining insights into the history of what makes American Art unique in it's vision. I am a college art teacher and will be recommending this book for my next semester. Thank you to Frances Pohl!

Superb!
Wow!Another incredible book published by Thames and Hudson!I love their art compendiums.Here, the author gives us a Canadian viewpoint on US history that is erudite and fascinating.Huge detailed book yet quite refreshing to read.I'm using it in a History of American Art from a Multicultural Perspective class. Lots of history and beautifully detailed artworks, including timelines.The printing is superb (Singapore).I highly recommend it!Great reading and a wonderful addition to your home library.

Good overview
This is a great book for a survey course in American art or for someone who wants to get into American art and just wants a general overview. The text is written in a very approachable manner, and the images that are included are of excellent quality and represent some good instances of characteristically American works. I used this book for an art history course in American art that was of a very limited time period, but the book is essentially written to cover everything in American art fairly broadly, from colonial times to the late twentieth century. A good read, and a good deal. ... Read more

Product Description
As fascinating as a real visit to the world's famous museums and architectural sites, GARDNER'S ART THROUGH THE AGES: A CONCISE WESTERN HISTORY gives you a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated tour of artistic traditions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Exactly What I Needed
I was a little apprehensive to order my textbook for college online.I was afraid it would be the wrong edition or something, but this is exactly what I needed.It was the exact book that was advertised and the same textbook my fellow students bought from the bookstore on campus.The only difference is that I saved $50 by ordering from Amazon.

Great Resource
Even if your not in an Art class (this is a course book) this good is great!!Lots of pictures and all the important information.I wish I would have read it before i went to Europe because then i would have known something about all the paintings i saw! buy this book!!!!!!

poor quality from Dana Miller84
This was supposed to be a new book with CD. When I received it the CD was not included and the book does not appear to be new eg. bent covers, wrinkled pages and pages that stuck together. If it had not been for the fact that I needed the book for my school and did not have time to order another I would have sent it back. I sent Dana Miller a message to please send my CD but she never replied. Would not recommend this vender to anyone.

Beautiful Book!!
I couldn't be happier with this book purchase!It was purchased for my Art History class for school, but outside the educational aspect of it, I couldn't be more satisfied.It was bought new, so of course in prime condition.It is extremely detailed, thorough, includes fantastic images and really breaks down each artistic piece and relates it to the significant cultural, religious and political aspects of the time period.For any Art History endeavors, I recommend nothing but Gardner's Art Through the Ages, all editions! ... Read more

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Kant, Art, and Art History: Moments of Discipline is the first systematic study of Kant's reception and influence on the visual arts and art history.Arguing against Kant's transcendental approach to aesthetic judgment, Cheetham examines five "moments" of his influence.The final chapter focuses on Kant's "image," both in contemporary and posthumous portraits, with respect to his status as the image of philosophy within a disciplinary hierarchy. In Cheetham's reading, Kant emerges as a figure who has constantly erected and crossed the borders among art, its history, and philosophy. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

FINALLY AN to Z COMPLETE HISTORY OF TRENCH ART!
DID YOU EVER WONDER JUST WHAT THOSE STRANGE ARTISTIC BRASS SHELL CASEING VASE "WHAT YOU MA CALL EMS " WERE THAT YOU ENCOUNTERED TOO OFTENAT FLEA MARKETS , ANTIQUE & MILITARY SHOWS ? THAT IS JUST WHO TOOK THE TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUITE BUSY WAR TO MAKE SUCH SIMPLY MARVELOUS MASTERPIECES OUT OF ALL THINGSBUT BRASS WHICH IS A MOST DIFFICULT MEDIUM TO WORK WITH IF AT ALL!WELL WONDER NO MORE AS THIS TRENCH ART MASTERPIECE ANSWER ALL BOOK IS BUT THE "BIBLE" ON A VERY SPECIAL & UNIQUE TOPIC SELDOM EXPLORED IN TRUE DEPTH & DETAIL!THE BOOK IS VERY EDUCATIONAL AS WELL AS ENTERTAINING WITH ALL IT'S MANY EXCELLENT PRETTY COLOR PICTURES & WILL CERTAINLY PUT THE POLISH ON AN INSIGHT TO A WORLD AT WAR FROM NOW ANOTHER TIME , MENTALITY , CAUSE & CENTURY FOREVER PAST! THIS BOOK IS REALLY A MUST FOR THE HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR ALIKE!PRAY THAT WE NEVER SEE THIS TYPE OFWAR ART EVER AGAIN AS THE BOOK IS A STATEMENT OF THE ORDINARY TORTURED FRONT LINESOLDIER SOULS TRYING TO FIND & CREATE BEAUTYFOREVER LOST IN A WORLD CONSUMED BY THE EVIL MADNESS OF TOTAL WAR! SOUND FAMILIAR? WHERE ARE ALL THESE LOSTARTISTIC SOULS NOW? PEACE! A+!

A Valuable Study of Trench Art
Jane Kimball has written a book of great value to those who have interest in this form of art.Her wrtting and illustrations bring forward the intricacies of area not generally understood. With this book, Mrs. Kimball is now accepted as recognized authority of trench art.

Casual history fan
What an amazing compilation!The information is fascinating and the photos are beautiful.The author is clearly an expert, not only about Trench Art, but also in terms of how to present material in ways that make it come alive for the casual reader.The excerpts from letters written at the time make history come alive.It's fitting in this time of war to be reminded that beauty can survive despite the hell that surrounds it.

Monumental Reference on Trench Art
This beautiful reference book is a must have for anyone remotely interested in the field of trench art. The author has done a marvelous job of documenting the development of this curious art form. Copiously illustrated with examples from her personal collection and others, TRENCH ART--AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY is the most comprehensive book on the subject. The collecting world owes Ms. Kimball a huge debt of gratitude for her work on this monumental book.

Gary Hollingsworth
Orlando, Florida

Lavishly Illustrated and Comprehensive
Trench art is unique, the creation of sometimes beautiful, often novel and perhaps practical objects of art.Very interesting aspect of both social and military history.

This book covers the World Wars in great detail.Techniques and numerous examples are covered.Writing style is informative and easy to read - the text is lavishly illustrated.Book covers older items (Napolionic bone carvings - not trench art in the literal sense, carved by French POWs in Dartmoor and Portland prisons), through to more recent conflicts such as Vietnam.

I collect trench art as a hobby.See reference below for a couple of my pieces:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze48sdz/id1.html

Wonderful book for any collector of trench art.Fascinating objects to collect - this book really helps to understand the background to these items. ... Read more

Product Description
From its origins in early 18th century slave communities to the end of the 20th century, African-American art has made a vital contribution to the art of the United States. This book provides a major reassessment of the subject, setting the art in the context of the African-American experience. 70 color illustrations. 5 linecuts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

fabulous, and I got to meet her!
This is a good introductory resource to African-American art.Patton fits a lot of history in a small book.
Generally the Oxford series are pretty fantastic to begin with, so you can't go wrong.

Plus, I got to meet her. She is very nice and knowledgeable. I got a chance to hear her speak at a conference.

Not a fan of the arts
I really want to appreciate the arts, but this book doesn't help. Too much race-baiting, not enough pictures, and overall very boring. Only reason I got it was cuz it was for school.

Great resource and easy to read
Sharon Patton does a wonderful job placing African-American art and artist within the contex of the time in which it was made.She shows how people of color were part of all the art movements and what the contributions were.The reproductions are high quality and the images cover many different mediums.It is easy to read and flows more like a story of art instead of a dry lecture. ... Read more

Product Description
The stunning masterpieces of Ancient Greece and Rome are fundamental to the story of art in Western culture and to the origins of art history. The expanding Greek world of Alexander the Great had an enormous impact on the Mediterranean superpower of Rome. Generals, rulers, and artists seized, imitated, and re-thought the stunning legacy of Greek painting and sculpture, culminating in the greatest art-collector the world had ever seen: the Roman emperor Hadrian.

This exciting new look at Classical art starts with the excavation of the buried city of Pompeii, and investigates the grandiose monuments of ancient tyrants, and the sensual beauty of Apollo and Venus. Concluding with that most influential invention of all, the human portrait, it highlights the re-discovery of Classical art in the modern world, from the treasure hunts of Renaissance Rome to scientific retrieval of artworks in the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A CLASSICAL BOOK !
I just received my copy of this book in the mail and I must say that the presentation is outstanding as usual from Oxford.The overall presentation of the material from the classical period is well presented and covered.Simply put, a great Classical book!!!! get it and refer back to it over and over !

Superb!
This innovative and deliciously illustrated guide to the arts of Greece and Rome is composed in a light-hearted, humorous vein and provides as much entertainment as artistic edification. Furthermore, its unique exploration of Greek art through the prism of Roman culture offers a refreshing new perspective on the development of the wildly influential high classicism of the empire. In short, a delightful and beautiful book. ... Read more

Product Description
After water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage on the face of the earth. In ancient China tea was regarded as one of the seven daily necessities of life; for many Japanese it has served as a ritual element in the quest for enlightenment. In England afternoon tea holds an immutable place in the popular imagination, while in the United States it is often associated with the American Revolution.--While various teas have been prepared in an assortment of ways and have played parts in countless culinary practices, it is also important to note that tea is and nearly always has been a highly important commodity. As such, it has played a variety of striking and often paradoxical roles on the world stage--an ancient health remedy, an element of cultural practice, a source of profound spiritual insights, but also a catalyst for brutal international conflict, drug trafficking, crushing taxes, and horrific labor conditions.--In the course of Steeped in History, editor Beatrice Hohenegger and eleven distinguished historians and art historians trace the impact of tea from its discovery in ancient China to the present-day tea plantations of Assam, crossing oceans and continents in the process. In so doing, they examine the multitude of ways in which tea has figured in the visual and literary arts. These include not only the myriad vessels fashioned for the preparation, presentation, and consumption of tea but also tea-related scenes embellishing ceramics and textiles and forming the subject of paintings, drawings, caricature, songs, and poetry.--Beatrice Hohenegger is an independent scholar and author of Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West.-- Other contributors are Terese Tse Bartholomew, Barbara G. Carson, Patricia J. Graham, Dennis Hirota, Elizabeth Kolsky, Jane T. Merritt, Steven D. Owyoung, Woodruff D. Smith, Reiko Tanimura, Angus Trumble, and John E. Wills Jr.- ... Read more

Product Description

Art History: The Key Concepts is a systematic, reliable and accessible reference guide to the disciplines of art history and visual culture. Containing entries on over 200 terms integral to the historical and theoretical study of art, design and culture in general, it is an indispensable source of knowledge for all students, scholars and teachers.

Covering the development, present status and future direction of art history, entries span a wide variety of terms and concepts such as abstract expressionism, epoch, hybridity, semiology and zeitgeist.

Key features include:

• a user-friendly A-Z format
• fully cross-referenced entries
• suggestions for further reading.

Engaging and insightful, as well as easy to follow and use, Art History: The Key Concepts builds a radical intellectual synthesis for understanding and teaching art, art history and visual culture.

Product Description
In tune with today's readers—rich but never effete—this is the art history book of choice for a new generation. Presenting a broad view of art through the centuries, it sympathetically and positively introduces the works of all artists. This includes women, artists of color, and the arts of other continents and regions, as well as those of Western Europe and the United States. The new edition contains even more full-color reproductions, larger images, redrawn maps and timelines, and new photographs and higher quality images. Balancing both the traditions of art history and new trends of the present, Art History is the most comprehensive, accessible, and magnificently illustrated work of its kind. Broad in scope and depth, this beautifully illustrated work features art from the following time periods and places: prehistoric art in Europe; ancient art of the Near East, Egypt, the Aegean, and Greece; Roman and Etruscan art; Jewish, early Christian, and Byzantine art; Islamic art; art from ancient India, China, Japan, and the Americas; medieval art in Europe; Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance art; Baroque art; art of the Pacific cultures; the rise of modern art; and the international Avant-Garde since 1945. An excellent reference work and beautiful edition for any visual artist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Art History
This was a very good collection of art history books. The content was clear and concise the pictures were beautiful. The books were made very well. I would recommend these books for anyone who enjoys Art History.

Art Textbook
This book set is perfect for teachers and students, the reduced weight mights it preferably for carrying in a book bag. I really wish that it included the box to keep all books together on shelf.

where's the box?
while the six volumes were present and in good condition when purchasing a boxed set I expected the box and despite paying for expedited shipping I still had to go two weeks without my text in class.

art history set
I would have given this set 5 stars if it actually came with the case that it shows.The material is very useful. ... Read more

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Product Description
Here is a fresh, exhilarating approach to the history of twentieth-century art. Rejecting the year-by-year sequential approach of conventional accounts, author Bernard Blistène tackles the subject thematically, using key works as a springboard to understanding the ideas and techniques of the major artists of the century.

The book encompasses the visual arts in the broadest sense of the term. In addition to painting, sculpture and the new art forms of the postwar era, it covers architecture, photography, industrial design and video. Each chapter treats a different theme-- from Fauvism to film, Dada to design-- providing:

* a general overview of the movement or period in question
* numerous illustrations of particular works, each accompanied by brief explanatory texts
* chronologies detailing important events within and around the world of art
* bibliographies and suggested museum visits for each movement.

With over 500 illustrations, A History of 20th-Century Art provides a lucid and compelling introduction to artistic creation in the last century.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Just What I Ordered
The book was just as I ordered, and it came in a timely manner.I was very pleased.

A very disappointing art book
I was very disappointed in this book.The style is unique (see the publisher's review above) yet this makes it somewhat incoherent.Also, the majority of the text is printed with a small font underneath the art pictures.The very narrow columns used for this contribute to its nearly illegible layout.I think the disappointment is that Bernard Blistene has an impressive resume yet the book doesn't reflect this. ... Read more