Icons of Europe (World Art)

3.5/5 ( ratings)

This second volume in the World Art series illustrates the sweeping breadth and diversity of Europe's artistic history, from prehistoric cave drawings to 20th century abstraction. With an introductory essay, timeline and visually inviting two-page spreads, this volume offers superb color reproductions of important paintings, sculptures, tapestries, glasswork, mosaics and other European masterpieces accompanied by cogent commentary from renowned scholars.The fifty carefully selected works shown here give full expression to the spirit of the cultures in which they were created. Objects from the early Cycladic civilization, the Greek and Roman empires, medieval, Gothic and Renaissance periods are represented here, as well as more recent works from the 18th through 20th centuries. Portraits and secular paintings illustrate Europe's ascendance in the field of representational art, and its tradition of depicting the individual since the Renaissance. Including examples of modern art, this volume displays works in a wide variety of media showing the impressive range of creative achievements over thousands of years of artistic production. A fascinating survey that will be of interest to experts and students alike, this visual journey through European civilization offers a panoramic history of art that informed and transformed the West.