Facts On File Encyclopedia Of Art ( 5 vol. set) - Hardcover

9780816057979: Facts On File Encyclopedia Of Art ( 5 vol. set)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0816057974 ISBN 13: 9780816057979

Publisher: Facts on File, 1897

A Comprehensive Reference to the History of Art A comprehensive and authoritative five-volume set, the illustrated Facts On File Encyclopedia of Art presents the entire history of world art, from Paleolithic art to modern art, from Africa and Asia to Europe, the Americas, and beyond. Embracing a global perspective of art and expertly explaining the development of art across time and cultures, this richly illustrated reference is organized chronologically into insightful chapters, each dealing with the art of a specific period, geographic region, or civilization. These subjects are broadly defined in a way that most students of art history will recognize and find useful. A Fascinating Visual History Combined with Expert Scholarship Covering all of the recognized major arts, including architecture, painting, drawing, and sculpture, as well as other art forms such as ceramics and metalwork, Facts On File Encyclopedia of Art shows readers the diversity of expression in the visual arts. Fundamental characteristics of the major styles and periods of art history are clearly expressed, and their significance is analyzed. various others detailing non-Western art are especially current, covering topics such as feminist art and women artists; graffiti art; video art, sound art, and installation art; and pluralism in art at the beginning of the 21st century. Interesting, Informative Special Features In addition to the clearly written text and beautiful full-color reproductions of artworks, Facts On File Encyclopedia of Art contains many special features intended to highlight major topics, spur readers to further research, and ensure easy access to information. Maps show readers the locations where civilizations and peoples created their works of art, text boxes offer detailed explanations of selected topics, and a bibliography follows each section.

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About the Author:

Lawrence Gowing (1918-1991), art historian, teacher, and painter, was the author of "Cezanne: The Early Years", and curator of the landmark exhibition mounted in Paris in 1988. His last books were "Cezanne: The Basel Sketchbooks" (1988) and "Paintings in the Louvre" (1994).

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* This fine set is a companion to Facts On File's Biographical Encyclopedia of Artists. Both sets are revisions of 1983 titles. That general editor Sir Lawrence Gowing died in 1991 should prove no more problematic than the fact that Helen Gardner and H. W. Janson, authors of classic and regularly updated art histories, died in 1946 and 1982, respectively.

Facts On File Encyclopedia of Art is published outside North America as Britannica Encyclopedia of Art. Its 54 signed sections survey, in roughly chronological order, Paleolithic through contemporary art. Standard and lesser-studied divisions in the European lineage, such as Classical Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Viking, Ottonian, Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque, Impressionist, and Dada and Surrealist art, are engagingly covered by contributors as distinguished as John Boardman, Elizabeth Cowling, and Sam Hunter. Updating of sections appears to be largely in the form of signed essays a few paragraphs to several pages in length following the original essay. Also impressively covered are non-European traditions including African, Oceanic, Indian, Southeast Asian, Chinese and Korean, Japanese, Islamic, pre-Columbian, Latin American, Australian, South African, and modern American art. There is a dearth of information on pre-twentieth-century American art-not even an index reference to John Singleton Copley or Albert Bierstadt.

Each section is handsomely illustrated, predominantly in color. As in Biographical Encyclopedia of Artists, there is a pleasing mix of the well-known image, such as van Gogh's sunflowers, and the unfamiliar, such as a Mexican bark painting or a selection of Turkish carpets. Captions generally describe the artwork, the name of its maker (if known) or culture of origin, and its location; less regularly indicated are dates and dimensions. Embedded in most essays are one or two signed and well-illustrated gallery studies (of several related works, such as Mochica effigy vases) or close studies (of a single work, such as the Egbert Codex). Preceding the first essay is a two-page chronology of art history. A glossary identical to that in the companion set and a thorough index conclude volume 5.

Highly recommended, especially in combination with the companion set, for libraries serving readers at the high-school level and above. Craig Bunch
Copyright � American Library Association. All rights reserved

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