Gardner's Art Through the Ages (Hardcover)

by Richard Tansev (Author), Fred S. Kleiner (Author), Horst De LA Croix (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
No art history student can get through a semester without the twin doorstops of Art Through the Ages. Chronicling the history of art from the earliest known cave paintings to postmodern architecture, as well as most major artists, works, and styles in between, these books are must-haves for those interested in understanding art in context. Both books are surveys, and experts may notice the omission of more esoteric movements and artists. Regardless, these volumes are invaluable references--especially since each edition of this classic improves noticeably in its coverage of non-Western art.

From Library Journal
Tansey and Kleiner have collaborated on the most thorough revision since 1970 of one of the central monuments of art-historical study. Extensively reorganized and rewritten, this massive book now contains five more chapters than the 9th edition. Among the beneficiaries are both African and Etruscan art, which each have their own chapter for the first time. Somewhat larger, more colorful illustrations, maps, and chronologies add to the overall improved look of this new version. As before, the prose is dense but readable, focusing primarily on appreciative descriptions of exemplary works and emphasizing the periodicity of artistic style. In a new concluding chapter, the authors acknowledge recent revisionist challenges to this more traditional approach. It's a cursory tip of the hat to postmodernism, followed by unconvincing attempts to legislate categories within the art of the 1980s and 1990s. Far better is the way most of the book deals with earlier eras, so that this remains the benchmark text against which all other general surveys can be measured. An improvement upon an already first-rate work; highly recommended.?Douglas F. Smith, Oakland P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1216 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace College Publishers; 10th Reiss edition (August 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0155011413
• ISBN-13: 978-0155011410
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.2 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #429,685 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the quintessential art history book there is, July 28, 2000

By	Diane (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Despite 10 pound book up four flights of stairs at school, I found that this book is one of the most resourceful. There is a historical timeline that parallels goings on in the rest of the world that is very helpful so that you could get the gist of what's going on at the time. Also, in the text itself, it gives definitive explanations to what is happening at the time so that you can understand fully what the artist is saying or where he/she is coming from. For those who do not know classics, bibilical stories, and other things, there are also good explanations for those, so the reader/student is enlightened and erstwhile, in comprehension of the work. Absolutely the best resource when it comes to art history and the interpretation of art.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for anybody interested in art, October 30, 2002

By	"littleoldme" (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gardner's Art Through The Ages (with InfoTrac) (Hardcover)

Short review: ... buy it. If it requires selling vital organs or loved ones to pay for it, it's worth it.

Long review: I enrolled in an Art History course with no idea what I was going to get as a textbook. This book is well-written, intelligent, informative without being overly esoteric, and above all beautiful. The prints are generally in color and always well-reproduced. Historical context is always provided, which gives a solid background for anybody looking to learn about the time any artwork was created. The text also offers insightful commentary about each piece selected for display. This book is so good, in fact, that it's become known as the semi-official Art History 101 textbook. Even if the history's not your thing (and for crying out loud, why not?), the book provides untold hours of beauty.

One word: perfection.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars College, January 28, 1999

By A Customer

i used this entire book for 3 art history courses. its an excellent book with great examples and photographs.