History of Art, 6th Edition [Hardcover]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

This survey of Western art is now in its sixth edition. New features in this edition include: over 150 new illustrations; updated maps; Website directory; new content on Ancient art, Neoclassical/Romanticism and Architecture; and a discography of recommended recordings.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Back in the early 1970s, "Janson"--as History of Art is universally known--was a hefty but manageable 616 pages, illustrated mostly with black-and-white photographs. It also famously contained not a single work by a female artist and devoted a scant eight pages to non-Western art. Five editions and three decades later, the art history student's Stone Age-to-20th-century Bible has swelled into a massive, slipcased, 1,000-page tome studded with 865 color reproductions and subheadings that corral individual artists whose achievements used to flow together like some mighty art historical river.

Women artists (from 17th-century painter Artemisia Gentileschi to contemporary photographer Cindy Sherman) now make the cut, and the focus is purely Western, extended to include 20th-century photography and postmodernism (with a scant two pages on postmodern theory). The timeline charting landmarks in art alongside key events in history, science, and the arts has been handsomely redesigned. Each historical period now has its own world map and selection of excerpts from primary sources (including unusual ones, like a fellow monk's account of painter Hugo van der Goes's mental troubles).

With each edition, portions of the text have been altered to reflect shifting scholarly interpretations. (As the late H.W. Janson wryly noted in the original, 1962 preface, "There are no 'plain facts' in the history of art.") H.W.'s son Anthony writes in his preface to the sixth edition that changes have been made to sections on ancient art; French romantic, realist, and impressionist painting; and the history of Western architecture. Happily unchanged--no dumbing-down here--is the clarity and intelligence of the writing. All in all, History of Art remains an invaluable reference for anyone who studies or writes about the subject. But even if no further bloat is contemplated, the time has come to rename the worthy Janson History of Western Art, and to divide it into two volumes, if only to protect the health and backpacks of art historians-to-be. --Cathy Curtis

From Library Journal

Horst W. Janson died in 1982, not long after the second edition of his best-selling History of Art was published. His son Anthony (art history, Univ. of North Carolina, Wilmington) inherited the franchise and has contributed to four subsequent updates, this one appearing four years after the last revision. Familiar to art history students throughout the world, this massive survey of 30,000 years of Western art is generally regarded as the fundamental text for teaching the subject to undergraduates. It is a deserving reputation, for in addition to the ecumenical enthusiasm and economy of description infusing the Jansons' writing, the work features time lines densely packed with data, four sections of over 100 primary sources, well-chosen illustrations, and an updated bibliography including web references. Its graphic design is rich with imagery and progresses without any affectations. New to this edition are rewritten sections covering architecture, ancient art, and French painting, as well as a discography of related recordings. A benchmark text brought up-to-date, this is an essential purchase for libraries not already owning a good copy of the fifth edition. Douglas F. Smith, Oakland P.L., CA.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1000 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.; 6 edition (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810934469
• ISBN-13: 978-0810934467
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.5 x 2.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All You Need to Know About Art History in One Volume, February 19, 2003

By 

Bruce Kendall "BEK" (Southern Pines, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: History of Art, 6th Edition (Hardcover)

Anyone who has taken an Art Survey or Art History course at a major university will no doubt already be familiar with this monumental and venerable book. It's long been the standard reference, for good reason. It doesn't merely take a few paintings or pieces of sculpture from a particular cultural period and overload the reader with needless minutiae. Janson's (father's and son's) text merely presents the relevant info that provides for a clear understanding of the progress and trends in areas ranging from visual arts (painting and sculpture) to architecture.

The prints in the new edition are more vivid and outstanding than ever. The helpful timelines and diagrams have been updated, to great effect. The sections on Oriental and Sub-Contintent art , that was just a postscript in earlier editions have been expanded significantly. The emphasis is still on Western art and architecture, but the editors are making strides. As the Amazon blurb-writer notes, some attempts have been made to include more female artists besides Mary Cassatt and Georgia O'Keefe. The recent revival of interest in women artists such as Frida Khalo and Artemisia Gentileschi will no doubt have an impact on the next revision.

This book would make a perfect gift for the budding artist in your household. It would also be a useful and important source of information if you are planning a trip to Europe. There is a reason they call it "Art Appreciation." The more background you have, the more "appreciative" you are of what is involved in the creation of a great canvas or a Gothic cathedral. If you believe that the contemplation of great works of art is a rewarding and enriching endeavor, then I highly suggest you make the investment and let the Jansons be your guides. For more background on Renaissance artists, in particular, I would also recommend Vasari's Lives of the Artists and Benvenuto Cellini's highly enjoyable autobiography.

BEK

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive History of Western Art, December 27, 1999

By 

"tallsarah" - See all my reviews

This review is from: History of Art, Revised (Trade Version) (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

Janson provides most students with their first exposure to the history of art, and I can't think of a better volume to do so. As I high school student, I lived and breathed Janson's; this volume provided the basics of art history. Today, as an art history major, Janson's provides an invaluable reference tool. Janson presents the reader with an exquisite history of art, from start to finish. Included in this tome are not only the basic artists and periods of art, but historical and political backgrounds and influences, as wells as anecdotes from the artist's lives. Janson teaches us how to identify characteristic styles of the artists, and how to identify the influences of the various styles and artists. The color plates alone are worth owning the book; the text is just as beautiful. Included are illustrated timelines, as well as cultural histories, and an interesting section with poetry, essays, etc., on or about the artists. (Ever read any of Michelangelo's poetry?) Anyone interested in the history of art, whether just starting, or looking to learn more, should consider Janson's. It is not without fault: it is, for the most part, a history of white male art. Yet, Janson's has been the bible of art history for decades, and continues to hold that title. Nothing can compare.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Cornerstone of Any Art History Library, May 8, 2000

By 

James Schoonmaker (Centreville, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: History of Art (Trade Version) (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

Simply put, this book is the standard that any other art history book is measured by. It's long, thorough, and extremely good. Well-illustrated, it covers every major (and most minor) periods of Western art starting from primitive cave sketches in France to modern-day. Beware, however; though the title doesn't say it, this book is a history of WESTERN art. Don't expect to see much in the way of art from other cultures, except in a comparison with a piece of western art.

As the editors suggest, Janson does not assume any level of knowledge on the part of his reader. This does, in fact, make this book fabulously easy to understand, even while he fills your head with a near-exhausting level of information. Janson is THE name in art history, and unfortunately, he knows it. He has a tendency to talk down to his readers, and his arrogance comes across clearly in nearly every paragraph. If it weren't for this exception and the fact that it only covers western art, it would have been an easy 5-star. You still can't get a better guide to western art-- no matter your level of familiarity.