Basic History of Art, A [Paperback]

H. W. Janson (Author), Anthony F. Janson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0135787742 | ISBN-13: 978-0135787748 | Publication Date: December 5, 1996 | Edition: 5 Sub

This is an introductory survey of the history of Western art from the ancient to the modern world. Focusing on art before 1520, this edition organizes the material chronologically. It now incorporates considerable new material on the history of music and theatre, and updates scholarship on ancient art, examining which battle the Nike of Samothrace commemorates, and addressing the question of the debt of Roman painting to Greek art.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Retaining the intelligence and freshness of H.W. Janson's classic original work, this highly esteemed, unsurpassed introductory survey on the history of Western art from the ancient through modern worlds is specifically written and designed to make art history accessible and enjoyable for students. Now with an exciting new design and a focus on art before 1520, the Fifth Edition enhances its narrative with boxed-off essays on the history of music and theater, marginal historical/terminology notes, drawings, tables on historical events and personages, and explanation of artistic processes.

From the Back Cover

Key Benefit:Retaining the intelligence and freshness of H.W. Janson's classic original work, this highly esteemed, unsurpassed introductory survey on the history of Western art from the ancient through modern worlds is specifically written and designed to make art history accessible and enjoyable for readers. Key Topics: Now with an exciting new design and a focus on art before 1520, the Fifth Edition enhances its narrative with boxed off essays on the history of music and theater, marginal historical/terminology notes, drawings, tables on historical events and personages, and artistic processes. Organizes material chronologically, with chapters being roughly divided into sections pertaining to architecture, painting, sculpture, and, in later chapters, photography. Now incorporates new sections on the history of music and theater and updates scholarship on ancient art, examining which battle the Nike of Samothrace commemorates, and addressing the question of the debt of Roman painting to Greek art. Market: For those interested in Western art history.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 632 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 5 Sub edition (December 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135787742
• ISBN-13: 978-0135787748
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,010,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful survey of Western art, July 14, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Basic History of Art (Paperback)

In the introduction to this edition, Anthony Janson (whose father, H.W. Janson, still has top billing for the volume) talks about the long tradition he and his father have had toward this volume and the larger work that carries the same name. It has been a standard in Western art education for decades, and the revisions periodically placed serve to bring new interpretations, perspectives and finds into the mix of history.

Prior to diving into the depths of art, Janson provides a primer - art history is a relatively new discipline, and often studied by historians and others with interest but relatively little training in artistic areas themselves. This book is about the visual arts (those of drama, music, etc. are not included here, but architecture is to some degree); Janson gives a brief survey of key concepts that are critical to understanding the mediums (artists, Janson states, prefer to use the plural of medium as mediums rather than media). Geometric and visual appreciation concepts are introduced, as are philosophical/aesthetic ideas.

The majority of the text is divided into four broad sections: The Ancient World, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance through the Rococo, and the Modern World. This is a book that really a survey or history of Western art - it does have a brief section at the beginning of the Ancient World on cave art and neolithic art in North America, but apart from this never wanders outside the main courses of Western art even in the modern period. As an introductory text, this is not surprising - many of the values and concepts of art in non-Western cultures require more explanation for adequate aesthetic appreciation of their art than an introductory survey course could cover. Still, it is a deficit worthy of note for those who are looking for a more comprehensive volume.

The Ancient World covers art of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent and Persia, Aegean/Greek art, Etruscan art, and Roman art. The section on the Middle Ages begins primarily with the rise of Christendom as the dominant political power - this includes Byzantine art, early Medieval art (Carolingian and Ottonian times), Romanesque, and the ascendancy of the Gothic style, including the great Abbey of St-Denis. The Renaissance focusses early on Italy, but also explores the Renaissance influences in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and England. The Modern Period is the most diverse, with movements such as Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau and other schools that had a greater tendency to cross national boundaries. The twentieth century brought about a great explosion of artistic expressions, in architecture, sculpture, painting and photography, each of which get a chapter. While the fourth section begins with a discussion of modernism, it ends with the discussion of post-modernism, a period of transition.

The colour reproductions throughout are stunning, and the use of black-and-white images to highlight details is also useful. Two-thirds of the 600 illustrations are in colour. The photographs showing architectural styles are interesting, far from being boring 'sample' shots. The text is engaging and informative, achieving a good balance between the artistic, the philosophical and the historical. There are maps, chronological tables, a glossary of terms, suggestions for further readings arranged topically, and a very useful index (always a plus for students and scholars).

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Short History of Art, Seventh Edition, July 5, 2007

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Mariellen True "memt" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short History of Art, Seventh Edition (Hardcover)

This extremely helpful book assisted in developing an understanding of the contributions of art in various cultures. It gave a deeper understanding of the worldview and cultural dynamics of various civilizations.

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome overview, but remember, it's just an overview, June 6, 2011

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Homeschool Reviewer - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Short History of Art, Seventh Edition (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book, full of many fine examples of art. The text is not "easy reading," but it gets to the heart of the matter, and can easily be skimmed for quick reference. To keep in mind that this isn't an in-depth study of art as a whole, nor does it claim to be. Sometimes I reach for this book as a reference, only to remember that fact and have to look elsewhere!