Art: Everything You Need to Know About the Greatest Artists and Their Work

by Susie Hodge

From the influential craftsmen of the high renaissance to the Dutch masters, and from the rococo and neoclassical movements of the 18th century to romanticism, modernism and contemporary art, the lives of the great artists are as varied and multifaceted as the works of creative genius they produced.

The Great Art Guide introduces readers to 100 of the world's most important artists, from the 13th century to the present. Works by artists such as Caravaggio, Vermeer, van Gogh and Warhol are arranged chronologically and set in their historical context by Susie Hodge's authoritative narrative.

Succinct and insightful artist profiles are accompanied by high-quality reproductions of the individual's most significant works of art. Including a glossary of key terms and a comprehensive list of the most important art institutions from across the globe, this concise and readable guide is a joy for students of art or anyone wanting to know more about great works of art.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, History

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Leo Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why I checked this out of the library, but I remember it as a rudimentary art history text. Definitely not a college-level text, and the text is rather un-inspired and un-insightful (ergo the three-stars). But it's filled with stunning masterpieces of remarkable beauty.

[Castles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, this book is only an introduction, very simplistic and every entry here is worthy of a full biography and research, but still, not only a beginner in art history lover will enjoy it, anyone can benefit from this book.

One always has a blind spot in timelines and understanding of eras and this book puts some order in the understanding of art’s study very well.

I was impressed with the methodological approach and the chronological order of artists which reminded me of the way I used to study art back in school.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting simple biographies of some of art's great artists and gives a brief explanation of the section of art they cover such as surrealism etc. Found this book easy to read in bite sized sections.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually mistakenly took this for a history of European art, which is why it came as quite a shook when I got to one of the only Asian artists about half way through. There are almost double the number of female artists to Asian artists, though, so I guess us women should be grateful for our recognition in this book.
I picked it up because I thought it would be a good pocket reference for all the most notable and influential artists across the history of the world, but it was very male, white, and European. There was a bit of colonial shit thrown in for good measure, and when I saw that the author was a "Susie" and (forgive me) assumed her gender to be female, I was pretty shocked. But, you know, the misogyny is coming from inside the house and all that.
TL; DR= bit boring, bit predictable, probably better out there.

[Dani A.Q. · Rating 2 out of 5]

With a title like this, there should be more than just one work printed per artist.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to well known Artists throughout history.

[Diana Jiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a good start as introduction to art history with a short biography on the artist. Will be revisiting this book in future I’m sure.

[Gianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good afternoon read. It made me appreciate the evolution of art styles through the years. I ended up doing a lot more research after on some of the pieces that really caught my eye. It's very western-centric though. I wish there were more Asian works featured.

[CF · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful introduction to the history of art and art theory. Starting from the lacquered gold look of the Byzantine era and ending with Pop Art Postmodernism, this book touches on most art periods and famous artists. Not everyone is included here but anyone who does not get a feature usually gets a mention.

Showing the move from religious and mythological art to landscapes and more realistic portrayals, right through to Cubism and abstract art; this book is an essential for anyone looking to find out a little bit more about the history of art. Really enjoyable.

[Kitt Noir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, concise & colourful history of art from early 1300 Gothic to the more recent pop art movement. Gorgeous prints of major artworks too. A beautiful guide to dip into and learn more about art and artists' lives

[Lauraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Organized by school and time frame with brief bios of each artist. An excellent way to learn a lot about art and artists through time.

[Neil Denham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I now know everything about art. (well, it is a start)

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This really was an introduction to art so possibly not the best read for me. Maybe good for those who have less knowledge of art.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's cool to see how art changes through time and also how we keep going back and forth between old techniques and new.