A Pictorial History of Western Art [antikvár]

This book takes the reader on a tour through about five thousand years of Western art. It begins with the origins of art in the prehistoric period and ends with the art of today. Those works of art discussed in some detail are also illustrated; all important periods and leading countries are included. Architecture, sculpture, and painting are emphasized, but the decorative arts and the graphic arts are also represented. Much care was spent on the selection of illustrations. With a wealth of art to choose from, each work had to be representative of its own period and to contribute in style and subject matter to the total panorama as well. Well-known masterpieces were included, even though they have been often reproduced. There are also works by unknown artists that have never been illustrated in this kind of book. Most of the works here discussed or illustrated are by outstanding artists, but there are many others of equal merit that had to be omitted. To condense the history of art into a given number of pages is an agonizing task. Much one would like to include has to be left out; otherwise it would be difficult to say much about anything. The history of art would become a string of names and dates connected by generalities and unsupported by interpretations or illustrations. In this volume most of the text deals with the illustrations. The best photographs obtainable were used; at times the one photograph that would result in the best reproduction was selected from several. 6