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Best Art History Books

Travel through time with the page-turners that depict the evolution of art. These best art history books have been curated based on their prevalence in authoritative art and literary publications.

Recommendations from 42 articles, Sarah Silverman, Paul Graham, Sarah Brown and 11 others.
Best Art History Books
61 books on the list
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The Story of Art book cover
The Story of Art
E. H. Gombrich - 1967-01-01 (first published in 1950)
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Explore the evolution of art from early cave paintings to modern experimental works with this updated edition. Discover eight new artists, accompanied by fuller captions including mediums and dimensions, and experience six breathtaking fold-outs of iconic masterpieces like Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and Van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece.
Gardner's Art Through the Ages book cover
Gardner's Art Through the Ages
The Western Perspective, Volume I and Volume II
Fred S. Kleiner - 2004-03-17 (first published in 1926)
Goodreads Rating
Discover the history of Western art and architecture with the most widely read and respected book in English for over 85 years. GARDNER'S ART THROUGH THE AGES: THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE discusses significant works in full historical and cultural contexts with an engaging approach. Access comprehensive digital resources like interactive eBooks, videos, audio, and critical thinking exercises through MindTap. Perfect for students seeking a thorough understanding of art and its evolution through time.
Ways of Seeing book cover
Ways of Seeing
Based on the BBC Television Series (Penguin Books for Art)
John Berger - 1990-01-01 (first published in 1972)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the world of art through John Berger’s groundbreaking book, Ways of Seeing. Originally based on a BBC television series, Berger examines how we look at paintings and changes the way readers evaluate art. As the winner of the 1972 Booker Prize, Berger’s influential book is a must-read for anyone interested in cultural studies and art criticism. Discover the liberating power of images and gain a new perspective on the world of art with Ways of Seeing.
Art book cover
Art
Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary
Nigel Ritchie - 2008-10-20
Goodreads Rating
Explore the world of art with a visual guide that covers over 2,500 of the most renowned paintings and sculptures. Learn about key movements, styles, and techniques while gaining insights on how to appreciate works by great masters. This monumental book is a must-have for art lovers and enthusiasts alike.
The Collins Big Book of Art book cover
The Collins Big Book of Art
From Cave Art to Pop Art
David G. Wilkins - 2005-11-01
Goodreads Rating
Discover the world of art with this engaging compendium! From cave paintings to Pop Art, this coffee-table book takes you on a journey through the history of art. Featuring over 1200 works of art, it includes a chronology spanning 38,000 BC to the present and turning points that highlight major artistic movements and technical breakthroughs. The second part explores enduring themes in art, such as portraits and landscapes, allegory and religion, and still life and abstraction. With easy navigation and an extensive reference section, The Collins Big Book of Art is perfect for art enthusiasts of any level.
Art book cover
Art
A Visual History
Robert Cumming - 2015-09-01
Goodreads Rating
Discover the key to understanding Western art with Art: A Visual History, now updated and repackaged in a themed slipcase. Explore the paintings, sculptures, schools, and styles that shaped the art world with over 650 artists arranged chronologically. Delve into 22 masterpieces, from Ancient Greek sculpture to 1960s Pop Art, and examine well-known icons alongside lesser-known treasures. Learn about the characteristics and preferred subjects of major schools and movements with insightful features. Art: A Visual History is a knowledgeable, thought-provoking, and accessible guide to Western art.
Classical Art book cover
Classical Art
From Greece to Rome (Oxford History of Art)
Mary Beard - 2001-07-19
Goodreads Rating
Discover the fascinating impact that Ancient Greek and Roman art has had on Western culture in this new exploration of Classical Art. From the excavation of the city of Pompeii to the grandiose monuments of ancient tyrants and the stunning beauty of Apollo and Venus, this book covers it all. Learn about the Roman emperor Hadrian, the greatest art-collector of all time, and the rediscovery of Classical art in the modern world. Gain insight into the origins of art history and the influence that Greek painting and sculpture has had on Western art.
The Art Book book cover
The Art Book
Phaidon Editors - 1997-04-17
Goodreads Rating
Discover 600 great painters and sculptors from medieval to modern times in The Art Book. This A-Z guide, now available in a compact and portable midi format, pairs brilliant examples of all periods, schools, visions, and techniques. With a fresh and original approach to art, The Art Book represents an unparalleled visual sourcebook and a celebration of our rich and multifaceted culture.
Lives of the Artists book cover
Lives of the Artists
Giorgio Vasari - 2014-05-10 (first published in 1568)
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Explore the lives and works of the most influential artists of the Renaissance with this iconic collection of biographical accounts. Giorgio Vasari's acclaimed work features fascinating facts, anecdotes, and influential theories of the development of art. From infancy to youth and maturity, journey through the early works of Cimabue and Giotto, the influential period of Donatello and Michelangelo, and the perfected art of Leonardo and Raphael. This specially commissioned translation includes 36 of the most important artist's lives, accompanied by insightful notes and an introduction. Get ready to be inspired and enlightened about one of the most innovative and creative eras of all time.
Art That Changed the World book cover
Art That Changed the World
Transformative Art Movements and the Paintings That Inspired Them
D.K. Publishing - 2013-08-19
Goodreads Rating
"Art That Changed the World" is a stunning visual timeline of the evolution of art, exploring the major styles and movements that shaped the art world throughout history. Each section features a double-page image of an influential painting that defined each artistic style, accompanied by explanations of the events that shaped their evolution. Get a glimpse into the lives of the artists behind seminal works of genius and their historical significance.
Art in Theory 1900 - 2000 by Charles Harrison
50 Artists You Should Know by Thomas Koester
The Power Of Art by Simon Schama
Women in Art by Rachel Ignotofsky
What Great Paintings Say by Rainer & Rose-Marie Hagen
Abstract Art by Pepe Karmel
The Duchamp Dictionary by Thomas Girst
Women, Art, and Society by Whitney Chadwick
Show Time by Jens Hoffmann
The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia StClair
What Are You Looking At? by Will Gompertz
Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel
The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham
Life with Picasso by Françoise Gilot
The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
Letters of Vincent van Gogh by Mark Roskill
Broad Strokes by Bridget Quinn
Art History Portables Book 2 by Marilyn Stokstad
A History of Pictures by David Hockney, Martin Gayford
The Annotated Mona Lisa by Carol Strickland
Art by Elke Linda Buchholz
The Art Museum by Phaidon Press
A Child's Introduction to Art by Heather Alexander
The Art Book for Children by Editors of Phaidon Press
13 Artists Children Should Know by Angela Wenzel
History of Modern Art Volume I by H. H. Arnason
Techniques of the Great Masters of Art by Waldemar Januszczak
A History of Art in 21 Cats by Nia Gould
AP Art History with Online Tests by John B. Nici M. A.
Styles, Schools and Movements by Amy Dempsey
The Story of Paintings by Mick Manning
Sister Wendy's 100 Best-Loved Paintings by Sister Wendy Beckett
Contemporary African Art Since 1980 by Okwui Enwezor
The Insider's Complete Guide AP Art History by Larry Krieger
My Name Is Georgia by Jeanette Winter
Gardner's Art Through the Ages by Kleiner
The Visual Arts by Hugh Honour
The Private Lives of the Impressionists by Sue Roe
Suzette and the Puppy by Joan Sweeney
The Art of Art History by Donald Preziosi
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King
Twentieth-Century American ArtFirst Paper edition by E. Doss by E. Doss
The Books that Shaped Art History by Richard Shone
Me, Frida by Amy Novesky
The Last Nude by Ellis Avery
The Judgment of Paris by Ross King
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon
Marina Abramovic by Marina Abramovic, Katya Tylevich
Art Monsters by Lauren Elkin