Product Description

Over two decades, this art historical tour de force has consistently proved the classic introduction to humanity's artistic heritage. From our paleolithic past to our digitised present, every continent and culture is covered in an articulate and well-balanced discussion. In this seventh edition, the text has been revised to embrace developments in archaeology and art historical research, while the renowned contemporary art historian Michael Archer has greatly expanded the discussion of the past twenty years, providing a new perspective on the latest developments. The insight, elegance and fluency that the authors bring to their text are complemented by 1458 superb illustrations, half of which are now in colour. These images, together with the numerous maps and architectural plans, have been chosen to represent the most significant chronological, regional and individual styles of artistic expression.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #179765 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 996 pages

Review
The most desirable art book of the year --The Times

Review
Over two decades, this art historical tour de force has consistently proved the classic introduction to humanity's artistic heritage.

About the Author
Hugh Honour is one of the leading art historians of our time. With John Fleming, he edited the Pelican 'Style and Civilization' series. John Fleming, with Nikolaus Pevsner and Hugh Honour, wrote The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. He died in 2001. Michael Archer teaches at The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford.

Customer Reviews

The most complete book of world art available.
Although Honour & Fleming's World History of Art may not include entries on 20th century non-western art, as some critics have noted, it is the most complete source of world art and architecture available at present. Its text is lucid and engaging, the overall layout and comprehensive index afford the reader easy access to topics, and there is a plethora of good quality illustrations. As well as being both a well-produced book and a good read, it is not surprising that it has been selected as one of the two set texts for the new GCE AS level History of Art course.

The book sets standards of excellence
The book in its breadth, scope, treatment, scholarship, illustration and literary merit truly sets standards of excellence. In particular the breadth and scope of a single volume treatise albeit of large format and nearly one thousand pages length is nothing less than impressive. The first review of the book written in 2000 is as pertinent to-day as it was then but with the qualification that the flaw identified then namely the inadequate treatment of 20th century art has in this seventh edition been ably remedied by the eminent contemporary art historian Michael Archer.

The book traces the evolution in the visual arts including architecture from the paleolithic era to the beginning of the 21st century and covers every continent and culture. With over 1400 illustrations, half of them in full colour and an array of maps, diagrams, time charts, an outstanding glossary, an excellent list of suggested further book reading and index comprises a complete and comprehensive text. An interesting feature in the book are the boxes which in this edition have been expanded to include additional areas apart from 'Sources and Documents' and 'In Context' which, however, correctly prevail.

The wide array of considerations in the book treatment of such complex issue as art can best be appreciated by citing two excerpts from the introduction which relate to our perception of art and its place in the scheme of human affairs and the human condition:

'The essential unity of aesthetic, moral and natural experience can be felt in them (works of art) in varying degrees, and they sharpen our awarness of how richly it falls on the receptive consciousness. For our senses are inextricably interwined, the religious with the aesthetic, the aesthetic with the moral, and the moral with that of order and proportion. The appeal of a great work of art is never purely visual, simply to delight the eye'.

'In every human society, art forms part of a complex structure of beliefs and rituals, moral and social codes, magic or science, myth or history. It stands midway between scientific knowledge and magical or mythical thought, between what is perceived and what is believed and also between human capabilities and human aspirations'.

The book certainly comprises one of the most valuable assets of the art book collection in my library.

Incomplete history
The written content is excellent, better than similar books on the market. This makes it an ideal reference book for students and serious art lovers. There are some gaps though. I missed a section on Celtic art - a field of increasing interest and popularity.