The Visual Arts: A History. Honour, Hugh and Fleming, John. 6th Edition, 2002. One of the textbooks used to instruct first year art and art history students, this book offers an in-depth look at the history of the visual arts, with detailed maps and pictures.
Art: The World’s Greatest Paintings Explored and Explained. Cumming, Robert. 1st Edition, 1995. Robert Cumming, Chair of Christie’s Education (www.christies.com), London, takes readers on a guided tour through 45 of the Western World’s most significant pieces of art. A great way to get started on the basics or for review, if you are an art veteran. Includes large color pictures.
Great Artists: The Lives of 50 Painters Explored Through Their Work. Cumming, Robert. 1st Edition, 1998. Again, a great overview from the Chair of Christie’s Education, London. The lives of 50 painters are explained to the reader in an entertaining fashion that will interest experienced or novice art fans and collectors.
The Collins Big Book of Art: From Cave Art to Pop Art. Wilkins, David. 2005. Another book that is invaluable to the art lover who wants a thorough overview of the history of art. Large in format, very detailed and rich in pictures, this is a great resource for anyone curious about art and art history.
The Art Book. The Editors of Phaidon Press. 1997. This book is a small, full color reference. It offers a handy way to visually connect art to artists and briefly explain art terms, using examples. An illustrated art dictionary that does not go into a lot of depth, but proves useful to those who want to increase their familiarity with art, artwork and artists without wading through a large book.
Legal Guide to Buying and Selling Art and Collectables. Vartian, Armen. 1997. The answer to almost any question about buying or selling art or collectables can be found within this book. A reference commonly used in the business by buyers and sellers.
How to Read a Painting: Lessons From the Old Masters. De Rynck, Patrick. 2004. This book is a treasure trove of information. Weighing in at almost 3 pounds and containing 1,000 glossy full color photos, it is an art history course in itself. Don’t let the size intimidate you; this is a very enjoyable book.
Art: A World History. DK Publishing. 2002. Another lush, detailed book about art and art history. This book goes a little farther than the previously mentioned overviews, with 2,200 color illustrations and sections about food, furnishings and fashion and their relationship to art.
Caring for Your Art. Snyder, Jill and Montague, Joseph. 3rd Edition, 2002. A practical guide explaining how to care for your artwork. A must for serious collectors, artists and dealers.
After Modern Art: 1945 – 2000. Hopkins, David. 2000. An interesting introduction to contemporary modern art, this book is not only informative, it is hard to put down. If you want to become more familiar with mid to late 20th century artists, this a good starting point.
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