Presents the history of art from prehistoric times to the present day, describes major artists and movements, and details the influence of art on society through the ages.

A layman's guide to art history free from bogged down, convoluted theories provides the reader with a basic working knowledge of art and its influence on society, from ancient times to today. Simultaneous.

Traces the historical and technological development of the arch from the ancient world to the twentieth century, and highlights the arches of the Colosseum, Chartres Cathedral, Monticello, and the Guggenheim Museum.

An illustrated tutorial of prehistoric to contemporary world art, from cave paintings to video art installations to digital and Internet media in an easy-to-understand format. This heavily illustrated crash course in art history is revised and updated from the second edition published in 2007. Featuring succinct page-length essays, instructive sidebars, and more than 300 photographs, The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Present takes art education out of the realm of dreary textbooks, demystifies jargon and theory, and makes the history of art movements accessible to beginning art museum-goers - even at a cursory reading. From Stonehenge to the Guggenheim and from African art to Warhol, more than 25,000 years of art is distilled into five sections (prehistoric and medieval, renaissance and baroque, the nineteenth century, modern art, and contemporary art) covering a little more than 230 pages.

What has made the Mona Lisa the most famous picture in the world? Why is it that, of all the 6,000 paintings in the Louvre, it is the only one to be exhibited in a special box, set in concrete and protected by two sheets of bulletproof glass? Why do thousands of visitors throng to see it every day, ignoring the masterpieces which surround it?

From prehistoric paintings to Andy Warhol's works, this book pairs full-color reproductions of 50 of the world's most celebrated masterpieces with brief, kid-accessible stories about how they were made, who made them, and where they fit in the fascinating world of art.

Art history is more than just a collection of dates and foreign-sounding names, obscure movements and arcane isms. Every age, for the last 50,000 years has left its unique imprint on the world, and from the first cave paintings to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, from the Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia, to the graffiti-inspired paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat, art history tells the story of our evolving notions of who and what we are and our place in the universe. Whether you’re an art enthusiast who’d like to know more about the history behind your favorite works and artists, or somebody who couldn’t tell a Titian and a De Kooning—but would like to—Art History For Dummies is for you. It takes you on a tour of thirty millennia of artistic expression, covering the artistic movements, major artists, and indispensable masterworks, and the world events and cultural trends that helped spawn them. With the help of stunning black-and-white photos throughout, and a sixteen-page gallery of color images, it covers: The rise and fall of classical art in Greece and Rome The differences between Renaissance art and Mannerism How the industrial revolution spawned Romanticism How and why Post-Impression branched off from Impressionism Constructivism, Dadaism, Surrealism and other 20th century isms What’s up with today’s eclectic art scene Art History For Dummies is an unbeatable reference for anyone who wants to understand art in its historical context.

A revised and updated edition of the best-selling resource for art teachers This time-tested book is written for teachers who need accurate and updated information about the world of art, artists, and art movements, including the arts of Africa, Asia, Native America and other diverse cultures. The book is filled with tools, resources, and ideas for creating art in multiple media. Written by an experienced artist and art instructor, the book is filled with vital facts, data, readings, and other references, Each of the book's lists has been updated and the includes some 100 new lists Contains new information on contemporary artists, artwork, art movements, museum holdings, art websites, and more Offers ideas for dynamic art projects and lessons Diverse in its content, the book covers topics such as architecture, drawing, painting, graphic arts, photography, digital arts, and much more.

Famed for her stirring "Leda and the Swan" performance in the Imperial Palaces, a beautiful dancer changes the course of history. The soldier and the swan dancer join on a treacherous path to power that leads all the way to the throne. The events that ensue, amid the struggles and politics of a society in flux, leave a city in ruins.

From cave paintings to Jeff Koons--that’s where this stunningly illustrated history of art takes you. Filled with pictures of paintings, sculptures, museum artifacts, and architectural standouts, and a cross-cultural approach that encompasses European, American, Asian, and Islamic masterpieces, it proceeds on a thrilling visual tour. Carol Strickland--author of the bestselling Annotated Mona Lisa (300,000 copies sold)--serves as guide, and delivers superb background that sets the stage for each era’s timeline, as well as informative sidebars that reveal the broader implications of new styles and movements.

Promotes the ability to study history with primary sources and the ability to compare aspects of major societies.

Traces the history of Western art from its classical roots up to the present day, and integrates the works of each period with the history, values, and ideals that gave birth to them

"The Open Boat" is a short story by American author Stephen Crane. First published in 1897, it was based on Crane's experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida earlier that year while traveling to Cuba to work as a newspaper correspondent. Crane was stranded at sea for thirty hours when his ship sank after hitting a sandbar. He and three other men were forced to navigate their way to shore in a small boat. Crane's personal account of the shipwreck and the men's survival, titled "Stephen Crane's Own Story", was first published a few days after his rescue. Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and poet who is often called the first modern American writer. Crane was a correspondent in the Greek-Turkish War and the Spanish American War, penning numerous articles, war reports and sketches. In addition to six novels, Crane wrote over a hundred short stories including "The Blue Hotel," "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky," and "The Open Boat."

An illustrated timeline chronicles the evolution of all forms of literature from antiquity to the present day and includes a detailed introduction and color-coding to show whether a work is poetry, fiction, drama, or non-fiction.

Written in the tradition of historians like Stacy Schiff and Amanda Foreman who find modern lessons in ancient history, this provocative narrative explores the lives of five remarkable pharaohs who ruled Egypt with absolute power, shining a new light on the country's 3,000-year empire and its meaning today.

Looks at important movements and artists and discusses paintings, sculpture, photographs, and architecture.

In a very short time, Marilyn Stokstad's "Art History" has become the gold standard of introductions to the history of art. It has transformed the way the field of art history is perceived and experienced. Engaging, accessible, and, just as important, fun, "Art History" gives today's readers cultural and social context for art along with eloquent visual explanations of art's special qualities and particular vocabularies. Its animated and clear narrative tells the many-sided story of art, starting with the earliest prehistoric paintings and sculpture through today's wildly varying works in new mediums. In addition to offering an outstanding collection of color illustrations, "Art History" features glorious maps, chronologies, and scores of labeled line drawings and architectural plans. Special essays called "The Object Speaks" offer tantalizing insights on topics such as authenticity, patronage, and artistic intention. Thoroughly updated to reflect the latest in scholarship, this Revised Second Edition features even more works in color and more newly cleaned or restored works. Many works of art are completely new to the book, including a wall painting from Chauvet cave, a page from the Morgan Library Picture Bible, Bronzino's "Allegory with Venus and Cupid," Claude Lorrain's "Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba," Rembrandt's "Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp," and Courbet's "The Stone Breakers," among many others. The addition of cutting edge contemporary artists Jeff Wall and Jennifer Steinkampt, and architect Daniel Libeskind bring present-day currency to the book's scope. More attention has been paid to the art and culture of the Islamic world and specifically the OttomanEmpire.

A textbook covering the world and work of the artist, trends and influences in world art, and art in the western world.

The definitive survey of Western art is now available in a deluxe, one-volume slipcased edition, bound in rich cloth and stamped in gold foil. 1,243 illustrations, 736 in color. 111 line drawings. 12 maps.