Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary [Hardcover]

Andrew Graham-Dixon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 2008

ART, the ultimate visual guide to 2,000 of the world's most revered paintings and sculptures, begins with a short section on how to look at paintings and sculpture, explaining the simple steps of formal analysis that swiftly become automatic and greatly increase and inform your enjoyment of art. The main part of the book is a 540-page chronological look at more than 700 artists. This section is subdivided into the main periods of art history with introductions to each period or art movement that explain the key elements and influences of the time. With several paintings by each major artist, this section is a joy to dip into or study in more depth. Key paintings are examined in detail to help you understand the artist's intentions, style, and method. Thematic galleries are interspersed, showing how artists from different periods and places treat the same subject matter, such as landscape, nudes, or animals.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

What must a big book of art contain to make it a great big book of art? Many color reproductions, including close-ups. A fluid mix of art history and interpretation set against the larger panorama of world history. Lots of brief artist bios. Clear and concise explanations of media, techniques, aesthetics, styles, and intent. A sense of continuity and stories of radical departures and infamous scandals. Works and artists the reader has never encountered before. A jump-starting foreword by an eloquent art historian, such as Ross King, who opens this exemplary volume, one that surpasses all the criteria above, by declaring, “Great art, more than anything else, is the benchmark of human achievement.” From the genuinely informative introductory primer, “Looking at Art,” to in-depth scrutiny of seminal works to overviews of universal and timeless themes, and a phenomenal array of artists past and present, this grand and exciting survey of the art of Europe and the U.S. with forays into Africa, Asia, India, South America, and Australia, should be the anchor for art collections of all sizes. --Donna Seaman

Review

"ART is a standout book for any student or aficionado, a volume [Ross] King aptly describes as 'an admirable feat and a true joy.'" --BookPage, November, 2008

Chock-full of gorgeous color reproductions and images, helpful timelines, detailed close-ups, artists biographies, and with histories and explanations written in clear, concise prose, ART is a standout book for any student or aficionado, a volume [Ross] King aptly describes as an admirable feat and a true joy. --BookPage

Product Details

• Hardcover: 612 pages
• Publisher: DK Publishing (October 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756639727
• ISBN-13: 978-0756639723
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 10.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A reference rather than an art book, December 11, 2010

By 

Thomas E. Davis (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary (Hardcover)

I downgrade this book primarily because its title strikes me as false advertising. Yes, it includes over 2500 color illustrations spread over 612 pages, but these are mostly very small images that do not allow their true appreciation as works of art. This is not an art book per se but a comprehensive historical reference work.

The vast majority of the volume is devoted to chronological listings of major artists. Individual painters and sculptors are given anywhere from a sixth of a page to a full page for a brief biography, a description of their milieu, and from one to a handful of photos of representative works. Occasional two-page spreads give readers a closer look at a particularly important piece, such as a Rembrandt self-portrait.

The book presents a fine introduction to art appreciation that illustrates the various things one must consider when evaluating artworks, such as subject, composition, perspective, light, shade, medium, color, and texture. There is a timeline at the beginning of each of the six periods of art that the book encompasses: before 1400, the 15th and 16th centuries, the 17th and 18th centuries, the 19th century, the early 20th century, and after 1945. These periods are further broken down into the predominant schools of the era. A glossary and index are included at the end.

This is by no means a bad book. As with all Dorling Kindersley titles, production values are superb. But understand what you are getting: a reference rather than an art book. On the other hand, if you want a beautiful, well-made, truly comprehensive book of art, I recommend "The Art Museum" by Phaidon Press, a 1,000-page oversized tome (19 x 14 x 3 inches) that weighs in at nearly 20 pounds and presents more than 2,500 carefully-selected artworks. It will cost you about $100, but your coffee table will thank you.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gorgeous Compendium, December 24, 2008

By 

dream factory (Triangulum, M33) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary (Hardcover)

We were impressed by Phaidon's '30,000 years of art'. Then our colleague brought this DK publication to our attention. WOW! DK known for their quick summary books and children education material went world class with this tome. A large handsome book which definitively covers the span of art from cave works to contemporary.

A beginning section details how artists use different means and media to bring their inspirations to fruition.

Then the bulk of the book presents each artistic movement - from renaissance to impressionism to pop and abstract (and so much more). Techniques, styles, influences. Interesting anectdotes and stories along with characteristics of individual themes.

We enjoyed the accompanying graphics, comparasins, overlays, and detailed close-ups.

More than 2500 beautifully reproduced works by more than 700 artists in all the different media.

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" (Picasso).... Indeed this book shall refresh you after a grey listless day malaise.

A very accessible and engaging comprehensive book.. . . ... An art joy not to be passed up! An essential global gallery for your art book collection.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Art Book, February 22, 2009

By 

Nunn Winship (Marlin, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary (Hardcover)

About the only thing I can say in the negative about this compendium is that space constraints allow only a few large reproductions. Older eyes need a magnifying glass to get much more than a brief glance at too many of the images. Those of us who are familiar with most of these artworks will be a little disappointed, but pleased to see familiar faces, no matter how small. I only am concerned for the audience who has no prior art appreciation background, that their initial introduction to so many of these pieces has to be so small. However, in fairness, to properly present this art, the book would have had to cost easily $200-300, instead of the reasonable $40. Kudos for the choices and write-up, all the same.