History of Art: A Survey of the Major Visual Arts from the Dawn of History to the Present Day

Good book just was missing dust cover.

I purchased this book to prepare for an art certification exam. I used this test back in 1984 while earning an art degree. It traces the history of art from the Ancient World to the Modern Art. It has four sections stating the primary sources which serve as a self review. The illustrations are beautiful, and the text contains plenty of interesting facts and descriptions of the art and their meanings. I found the typeface size slightly small, but it is clear and precise. The book weighs seven lbs. and it has 1,032 pages. It is a hardback and it comes in its own hardcover pocket.

I first read the book while I was an exchange student at USA. I took History of Art as a subject (my major was Business) for pleasure and I can say that I have never seen such a book in my whole life. It is writen in an easy language so you can read it without a dictionary; when you read it, you will know that you do not have to be an art expert, the book is writen to teach. It is not based only on technical art terms, it also has deep explanations about history moments, cultural changes and customs. I really recommend this book, not only to fanatics of art or people with majors in this field, this is a book that almost everybody should have in order to understand the way humans have projected themselves through history.

If you want a great general book on art in your library, this is the book for you. It covers all the great eras and great works with beautiful plates, and the accompanying text is detailed enough to satisfy the most curious reader. It is particularly valuable for its sections on sculpture.However, if you are looking for an in depth analysis of an artist or style, this is not the book for you. This is not to say that it skips over the subject matter - this is definitely not the case, but there is not the detail needed for in depth scholarly analysis.But as a general reference book on a complex and fascinating topic, it is a gem. Every household with a half serious library should own a copy.

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.