A History of Western Art: From Prehistory to the Twentieth Century

by Antony Mason, John T. Spike (Editor)

Lavishly illustrated with more than 250 full-color reproductions of artworks, details, photographs, and documents, this informative book provides a sweeping overview of Western art. The book begins with the cave paintings at Lascaux, France, and continues on with the art and architecture of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome through Early Christian, Byzantine, and medieval art and on to the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Then it proceeds from Neoclassicism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Modernism up to the art of the late twentieth century. The book is filled with paintings, sculpture, mosaics, and architecture by such renowned artists as Paolo Uccello, Jan van Eyck, Filippo Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Goya, Turner, Monet, Renoir, Auguste Rodin, Georges Braque, Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock, David Hockney, and Andy Warhol.

An essential tool for classrooms and libraries as well as a wonderful gift for young people interested in art.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Eighty books – seems a bit excessive, really, even to me. But this is the product of more than twenty years of writing. And I have to say that some authors in my field – illustrated non-fiction – have written twice, even three times, as many.

How did I get here? Well, I worked as an editor with a couple of small publishing companies in London for about ten years (1977–87), and then I turned freelance. Whenever any writing tasks were offered to me, I took them, and so gradually I made the conversion from editor to writer – although I still do both.

I think I always wanted to be a writer, penning short stories as a child. I also have an insatiable curiosity. This is how I’ve ended up in non-fiction, where my magpie instincts to investigate virtually any area of knowledge have served me well.

My primary skill – so I’m told – is to research a subject and then convert it into clear, accessible and engaging text for a general readership, or for children.

I also translate books from French, and write website content.

For a couple of years (2008–10) I was a tutor in writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, working as a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. Latterly I have been closely involved in the Intergenerational Foundation, which aims to remind government and policy-makers of the need to think for the long-term to ensure an honourable and sustainable legacy to future generations.
Since 2011 I have also been writing as the ‘Brussels expert’ for the Daily Telegraph and the Telegraph online travel website.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and interesting. Works on many levels: reports on ancient history, artists, art, architecture, Renaissance; excellent browser. The multiple full-color reproductions on every page are excellent quality. Text, captions, and reproductions all come together smoothly. An incredibly valuable resource.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I need to own.(Thankfully Multnomah County libraries let you renew continually.) It has been an invaluable resource for my art history class this past year. I really felt the scope of history while learning about different artists.

[Lan Dao · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It's easy to understand. The examples in the book are very pretty and informative. I wish I own this book, even the bigger version (if they have) in order to have a closer look on them.