Customer Reviews

Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the standard history of art textbooks. Of course it includes color prints of all the most famous art of the Western tradition, as well as numerous photographs and floorplans of famous architecture. It has a little coverage of Islamic art, but that is a topic that deserves better than it can be given in a textbook on the Western tradition. Painting, architecture and sculpture are clearly the focus, but photography and decor each get a nod. Other forms of art--from gardening to appliance design--although interesting, evidently cannot fit in this space.

The text is adequate: a little better than standard textbook composition, less dull, perhaps a touch less condescending, and of course perfectly informative.

Issues in technique, interpretation and so on are well-introduced.

If you, like me, are not a student but an adult just curious about art, this is a fine choice. I've also enjoyed work by Robert Hughes ("The Shock of the New," which I strongly recommend, and "American Visions"), Andre Malraux ("The Voices of Silence") and David Morgan ("The Sacred Gaze").

(I'm not widely read in this field by any means: those are the only books I've read about Western art history! So there could be various better books out there. But still, this textbook has been very useful to me, helping me fill out my knowledge in many areas.)

This book is incredibly comprehensive and covers all aspects of art in different cultures, including painting, sculpture, architecture, and burial sites. It is remarkably detailed (almost too much so), and has many great pictures.

The most distinctive aspect of this book is the primary sources it includes that explain the historical context of artworks. For example, there are numerous letters (translated, of course) from Italian artists in the Renaissance to their clients. Another text includes excerpts from the law code of Hammurabi, to accompany the sculptural piece on which it was originally engraved.

I'm using the book for an art history class. It might've been more useful to buy the book in sections. I hear that the book is also printed as two books (halves) which would be much more useful and convenient to move around.

An excellent base for an art student to build upon; clear, informative, visual, and historical. Supplements and sources such as Wikipedia and encyclopedias and history texts will show how intertwined art is with politics and religions in depth where the book skims over.
A wonderful book, and covers some Eastern Art despite the focus title on the West. Chapters are organized and they get the point across; lovely descriptions of photographs that are present in the book, so you really get to study the subject and with the assistance of the text, see the inner beauty in the architecture.
What I found lacking was the mention of the Golden Ratio, and in fact, any mathematics whatsoever. As mathematics is very important to ancient-modern art, I found it rather confusing. However, as said before, an excellent base.
Very intriguing and not in the least boring or dry, Janson's History of Art is a prime choice coupled with supplementary books. If you're interested in overall art history, this is the one to go with...
Have fun!!!

I originally bought this book as a supplement to an art history class. I am now in my third art history class and still using this book. The book is well written and laid-out chronologically with introductions for each chapter that include some of the cultural background about the period in art history. There are lots of great pictures. A detailed index that helps you find information about artists, artworks, or art periods. There are interesting sidelines that add to the current topic, such as exerpts from letters artists wrote and techniques such as the lost-wax process. In addition, each chapter includes a timeline and a summary at the end.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a supplement to an art history class or an interesting book on art in general.

love it! very informative and has the best of the best artworks. but could use a modern edition strictly of the 20th century

Exactly what I needed. The book was in great condition. Study guide would have been helpful, but not necessary. It was worth buying used to save a big chunk of change!

This book is a great tool for art history. I definitely recommend it to anyone taking an art history class.

I just realized after looking back at the item that I purchased that I was sent the wrong item. The book I have isn't a hard copy version of this book, therefore I overpaid. I could have gotten the paperback for 10.00 used as opposed to paying 50.00. It upsets me that I JUST realized it and there's no possible way for me to be reimbursed. How did I notice? I went to resell my book online & realized that my book would only sell for 10.00 TOPS used. I knew that wasn't what I had paid and I searched in my order history to find I had been ripped off.

Edit : After attempting to get reimbursed (or any kind of correction of the problem) from the seller -- I was told that "that was the only book i had & posted it online at that time before 4 monthes & even if it was the wrong book it's price at that time was the price I sold it for." The seller refused to offer me any type of compensation even though the hard cover book sells for approximately 150.00 new and my paper back copy sells for 20.00 new. Sadly, I didn't notice the error when it was sent to me and I'm paying for it now because the seller refuses to admit their mistakes and fix their wrong doing.