Customer Reviews

American Art and Architecture (World of Art)

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Professor Lewis has undertaken a very ambitious project and has accomplished his mission with an astonishingly clear, easy to read and engaging review.
The study of American art and architecture is a hobby for me and I have read several texts on this subject prior to this one. I say this to frame my comments as coming not from a professional or scholarly point of view but not from a novice, either. I am not certain that this would be a good entry point for this subject if only because the author covers so much ground in the space alotted . For the reader who is familiar with well known works and the lives of the characters discussed here,the book provides a flowing narrative that connects the developments in both art and architecture to the historical events of the times. There is little attempt to dig into the psychological or political underpinnings in any great detail, a trait of some of the other reviews in the field that can often make the going a bit tough. (I find this to be a problem with some of the Oxford series books).
The illustrations are not the high point of this book. They are adequate and serve to reinforce the text, which I think is the point here.
The brief glossary and comprehensive index were helpful when trying to return to a point discussed in brief detail which returns later in the text.

Lewis is a champ. A great writer who renders the entire chronology of American Art accessible to the casual reader, but with excellent historical analysis at the same time. Love it.