Random House Dictionary of Art and Artists

There is definitely much to be said for this encyclopedia and the number of artists per square inch it manages to cover without being too heavy to lift (and no, the type is not too small to read). The coverage of obsure and not-so-obscure artists is so thorough that one has to wonder if a "your artist is in here or your money back!" guarantee came with the book! My only major complaint is that the book does seem to be a little short on black and female artists (Frida Kahlo is omitted, which isn't a big loss; Henry Ossawa Tanner is also omitted, which IS a problem.) I hope that a new edition will appear that will correct this problem. In the meantime, I would suggest bringing this book on your next visit to your local art museum. Trust me--you will learn a lot.

It not only contains brief histories of Western artists from A to Z, but also gives an explanation of art terms, mediums, styles, and vocabulary. Perfect for anyone.