Story of Painting: From Cave Paintings to Modern Times

by H.W. Janson, Dora Jane Janson

Superb color illustrations accompany this history of Western art from earliest times

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, School, Art History, Reference

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1962

About the author

Horst Waldemar Janson, who published as H. W. Janson, was a Russian-American scholar of art history best known for his History of Art, which was first published in 1962 and has sold more than two million copies in fifteen languages.

Reviews

[Gina Johnson]

This is an AmblesideOnline book that starts in year 7 I believe and goes on for multiple years. We have been reading it aloud for years and finally finished it today. I really found it interesting and enjoyed most of it! It’s really a great oVerview of where art started (the book starts with cave paintings) and how it develops.

[Teresa TL Bruce]

I have used this book through the years to share a love of art with my children, from the time they were interested only in pictures and as they got older to look at the historical and social trends that influenced artists through the ages. DISCLAIMER: As with any art museum or book about the Old Masters, there are a few pieces depicting more of the human body than modesty permits. (When I did volunteer teaching at our elementary school I strategically paper-clipped certain pages together!)

[Brianna Knutson]

Interesting

[Jean Bowen]

Big, beautiful book.

[Glenn Robinson]

The author had not heard of art from India, China, the America's.....or almost most of the world. The title should be changed to "Art I enjoy from Italy and Paris."

[Lillianna Bliss]

Begun 2022??? Haven't finished as of 1/25

[Melissa King]

Pre-reading for Amblesideonline Year 7. I’ve decided to include this book as a family subject as we will be studying ancient history together. I only read the first section of the book, as that’s all I’ll be needing this coming school year.

[Chase Parnell]

Nice primer.

[Jack Reifenberg]

Nice change of pace

[Tom Axworthy]

This is a useful history of painting written in an easily understood way, supplemented of course with attractive reproductions.

[Felix Rode]

Good introduction. Hardly any biographical info about painters, but a lot of historical context and developments. Most are presented very well