The Collins Big Book of Art

More about the book

This engaging compendium of art history serves as an accessible entry point for families to explore the world of art, regardless of prior experience. Spanning from cave paintings to contemporary movements, it features over 1200 artworks, making it both a coffee-table book and an educational resource. The book includes a comprehensive chronology detailing the history of art from 38,000 BC to the present, with pieces from around the globe placed in their historical context. Each artwork is accompanied by essential information, including date, country, title, artist, materials, size, and current location, and is linked to its artistic movement and key themes. Interspersed throughout the chronology are "Turning Points" that examine significant artistic movements and technical innovations that transformed artistic practices, such as the introduction of the glass lens in the Renaissance and the use of paint tubes by Impressionists. The second part of the book delves into enduring themes in art, comparing various approaches to subjects like portraits, landscapes, allegory, religion, still life, and abstraction through carefully selected images. An extensive reference section, complete with multiple indices, glossary, and artists registry, enhances navigation. This beautifully presented book will inform, inspire, and entertain art enthusiasts at any level of understanding and appreciation.