A Worldly Art: The Dutch Republic, 1585-1718

I purchased this text for a class recently. This little book is quite dense with information. So much so that I've reread and reread. It's very affordable and highly informative on Dutch Baroque Art.

This book is beautifully printed and full of not only splendid pictures, but much useful information. This is the kind of book to put on your shelf for reference over and over. And, on a gloomy day, it will be a delight to get out and look through again.

The Dutch Golden Age wasn't high on my list of favorites -- until this book came along.This, in common with other volumes in the "Perspectives" series, offers high quality (though small) reproductions of important works, up-to-date analysis and discussion of the art and the contexts in which it was created. It does all this while also offering two things that are rare in art books -- clear, well-written prose accessible to a lay audience, and a reasonable price. An excellent introduction to the subject, and a wonderful addition to any library.

This book has many strengths: a large number of color photographs, the latest scholarship, and a variety of interpretative considerations. Westermann organizes the book thematically instead of by genre, which allows the reader to grasp the wholeness of Dutch art. Weaknesses: landscape and the contributions of Rembrandt are not given their due. Overall, a fine work that is appropriate both for the layman and the scholar.

This is the best and most readable introduction to the art of the Dutch Republic that is available today. Highly recommended