Synopses & Reviews
In this beautifully written story of art, Julian Bell tells a vivid and compelling history of human artistic achievements, from prehistoric stone carvings to the latest video installations. Bell, himself a painter, uses a variety of objects to reveal how art is a product of our shared experience and how, like a mirror, it can reflect the human condition. With hundreds of illustrations and a uniquely global perspective, Bell juxtaposes examples that challenge and enlighten the reader: dancing bronze figures from southern India, Romanesque sculptures, Baroque ceilings, and jewel-like Persian manuscripts are discussed side by side. With an insider's knowledge and an unerring touch, Bell weaves these diverse strands into an invaluable introduction to the wider history of world art.
Synopsis
With hundreds of illustrations and a uniquely global perspective, Bell juxtaposes examples that challenge and enlighten the reader: dancing bronze figures from southern India, Romanesque sculptures, Baroque ceilings, and jewel-like Persian manuscripts are discussed side by side. With an insider's knowledge and an unerring touch, Bell weaves these diverse strands into an invaluable introduction to the wider history of world art.
Synopsis
A wonderful guide. Bell has a passion for art, a good eye, and a writing style full of grace and energy. . . . A great leap beyond the conventional survey.A valuable and entertaining adventure in art history.Bell applies his painter"s eye and sensibility to unusual juxtapositions of world cultures.An extraordinary book for any reader.
Synopsis
"Exuberant, astute, and splendidly illustrated history of world art . . . draws fascinating parallels between artistic developments in Western and non-Western art."--
About the Author
Julian Bell has taught art history for many years and is also a practicing painter. He writes widely on art for magazines, including The New York Review of Books.