Italian Renaissance Art

Rating:
Summary: well-written
Review: I have read numerous art history books, and most suffer from being dry and too heavy on dates. This book is well-written with a style that flows from topic to topic. All the important information (yes, those dates!) a student will need is here, but the presentation puts it above the rest, making it an enjoyable book to read again and again. What I found especially valuable is how Adams places the works within the political and social environment of the times. Knowing the history adds a lot to art history! She provides sidebars with anecdotes about the artists or significant events in the era that have influenced the work. Stylistic and technical information is also excellent. Photographic quality is superb.

Rating:
Summary: Italian Renaissance Art
Review: Italian Renaisance art by Laurie Schneider Adams is a wonderful introductory text on Renaisance art. It is very clearly written with a helpful glossary for those who are not familiar with art terms. It not only explains both style and iconography of the Renaisance period but gives a great backround of the culture of the period. The illustrations in the text are wonderfuly detailed and most are in color. This is a great text for intro. classes to Ren. art and people who wish to learn on their own.