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Summary: All You Need to Know About Art History in One Volume
Review: Anyone who has taken an Art Survey or Art History course at a major university will no doubt already be familiar with this monumental and venerable book. It's long been the standard reference, for good reason. It doesn't merely take a few paintings or pieces of sculpture from a particular cultural period and overload the reader with needless minutiae. Janson's (father's and son's) text merely presents the relevant info that provides for a clear understanding of the progress and trends in areas ranging from visual arts (painting and sculpture) to architecture. The prints in the new edition are more vivid and outstanding than ever. The helpful timelines and diagrams have been updated, to great effect. The sections on Oriental and Sub-Contintent art , that was just a postscript in earlier editions have been expanded significantly. The emphasis is still on Western art and architecture, but the editors are making strides. As the Amazon blurb-writer notes, some attempts have been made to include more female artists besides Mary Cassatt and Georgia O'Keefe. The recent revival of interest in women artists such as Frida Khalo and Artemisia Gentileschi will no doubt have an impact on the next revision. This book would make a perfect gift for the budding artist in your household. It would also be a useful and important source of information if you are planning a trip to Europe. There is a reason they call it "Art Appreciation." The more background you have, the more "appreciative" you are of what is involved in the creation of a great canvas or a Gothic cathedral. If you believe that the contemplation of great works of art is a rewarding and enriching endeavor, then I highly suggest you make the investment and let the Jansons be your guides. For more background on Renaissance artists, in particular, I would also recommend Vasari's Lives of the Artists and Benvenuto Cellini's highly enjoyable autobiography. BEK
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Summary: The Absolute Survey for Art History
Review: As an art history major, I found the fourth edition of History of Art an invaluable tool in learning and understanding the evolution of the history of art. The fifth edition, however, is sublime! The fifth edition has several additions that put History of Art ahead of the other surveys (Stokstad and Gardner) on the market. The first and best inclusion in the updated version of History of Art is that of primary sources at the end of the sections. Abrams (the publisher) solicited some of the finest art historians (including Dale Kinney, an exceptional medievalist) to choose and edit texts from the time period of the section. This addition is incredibly beneficial for an art history instructor or TA (almost all the work is already done in terms of supplemental readings). Further, for the amateur reading for pleasure, the texts are an invaluable addition. Not only do the Jansons provide their own stellar modern view, but the book also provides a more historically acurate way to understand and view the art. It is phenomenally beneficial to be able to read texts written at the same time as the art. It helps to moderate an inevitable anachronistic interpretation/viewing of the art. This inclusion of primary texts is what allows this edition of Janson to trump the Stokstad survey. While Stokstad's Art History includes some fantastic charts and iconographical aides, History of Art's inclusion of primary texts is of greater value. The amateur art historian could create a chart comparing the art historical developments in different countries, but would not necessarily be able to pick helpful primary texts. The second major difference in this latest edition of History of Art is the modernization of the subject matter included. The fifth edition is markedly different from the fourth by including more women artists and more non-western art. While this is a fantastic improvement on early editions, it does not necessarily make History of Art distinguishable. In keeping with current trends in academia, almost all recently published surveys contain these types of updates. In sum, the fabulous and myriad colour plates, the wonderful modern text, the inclusion of traditionally under-represented art and artists, and the inclusion of fantastic primary texts makes this art historical survey the best on the market.
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Summary: A classic, but not comprehensive
Review: I agree with the reviewer from Pennsylvania. Either this classic work needs a new title acknowledging the limits of its interest (Asian art is sadly ignored, for example) or, better still, it should be expanded to live up to the comprehensiveness suggested by the present title. As far as it goes, though, Janson's "History of Art" remains a wonderful, gorgeous, readable survey of Western art.
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Summary: Needs New Title
Review: I am an un(art)educated layman and purchased this book to fill in a major gap. It arrived yesterday and I gave it a page-by-page onceover last night. I agree, this book is sumptuously illustrated. The quality of the illustrations is very high. I was surprised at the large number of color illustrations (Thank you, Abrams). But I was disappointed by the lack of treatment of non-European subjects. Rather than add them into this volume, just change the title, adding the word 'Western'. The book is still a joy to own. I am looking forward to many evenings of browsing through it.
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Summary: Excellent resource
Review: I bought an edition in college and still use it in my middle-school art class room. In depth explainations about modern art and many cultures are encomassed. I cannot praise it enough as a resource book.
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Summary: Excellent resource
Review: I bought an edition in college and still use it in my middle-school art class room. In depth explainations about modern art and many cultures are encomassed. I cannot praise it enough as a resource book.
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Summary: great book!
Review: I bought this book....AND IT WAS WONDERFUL! It explains without lecturing about the whole history of art...THAT'S RIGHT, THE WHOLE HISTORY OF ART, in this one book. While it doesn't go into tens of pages of detail about art periods and artists, it provides more than enough info about eveything in art. This book is a definite recommendation for those who want to appear very art savvy. It serves also a text book for some colleges, so you can imagine how useful this book is. reading this wasn't a chore at all, and anecdotes and illustration make it interesting. Best of all, it discusses ot only art, but also a little bit about theatre, music, etc. about the period in context. One of the best all round art books available.
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Summary: A complete review of history
Review: 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.
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Summary: My old college textbook turned beloved favorite
Review: I had to buy Janson's for my first art history class in the 70's...and it has remained one of my favorite books. It works on every level - research tool, fact checker, and it's also a great book to curl up with in front of a fire.
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Summary: Where's Bougereau
Review: I have studied Art History for many years. Janson's is a tremendous wealth of knowledge. However, I can't imagine why the great French artist, William Adolph Bougereau, was not included. His existence was not even aknowledged. Some of his numerous works are in various museums across the USA. His prints are in demand and being sold in every place from fine art galleries to stores at local malls. His contribution to the art work has been priceless. "History of Art" is an absolutely fabulous book/study guide. Yet, I feel that I cannot give it a full five stars due to the exclusion of such talent. At this point, the book, as great as it is, is incomplete.
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