Synopses & Reviews
Whether you are interested in Junk Art or Byzantine Art, the Ash-Can School or the Antipodeans, Praxiteles and Phidias or Gilbert and George,
The Oxford Dictionary of Art is the first place to turn for accurate information about artists, schools, periods, techniques, critical terms, major museums, art historians, philosophers, and much much more. Compiled from three highly acclaimed
Oxford Companions --
The Oxford Companion to Art,
to Twentieth-Century Art, and
to the Decorative Arts--and with hundreds of new entries added, this authoritative, one-volume reference offers over three thousand entries on almost every aspect of Western art, as well as the most essential features of Asian art.
Here you will find the answer to almost any question pertaining to the world of art. In what museum is Parmigianino's Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror exhibited today? Who coined the term "happening"? What are color field painting, hard edge painting, and op art, who are the most representative artists of these schools, and what are their best works? How does camaieu differ from grisaille? What is the most richly endowed museum in the world? As a further aid the Dictionary offers an extensive system of cross references, guiding readers to a wealth of additional information on almost any topic of interest.
Covering the entire history of art, this wide-ranging and up-to-date guide is an indispensable reference for scholars, for students, and for art enthusiasts of every kind. It is also a browser's delight, filled with fascinating facts about the personalities who people the world of art.
Review
"Chock-full of useful information, this well-written dictionary is comprehensive, though not encyclopedic, and provides an overview of Western art forms and artists from the fifth century BC to the present."--Boston Sunday Globe
"The best and most inclusive single volume available, immensely useful and very well written."--The Sunday Times (London)
"Chock-full of useful information, this well-written dictionary is comprehensive, though not encyclopedic, and provides and overview of Western art forms and artists form from the fifth century BC to the present."--The Boston Sunday Globe
About the Author
About the Editor:
Ian Chilvers is an art historian and freelance editor and writer. He is the co-author of A-Z of Art and Artists.