Art and CivilizationH.N. Abrams, 1993 - 560 pages Art and Civilization is an exciting, lucid survey of the arts and ideas of Western civilization from Paleolithic times to the present. It examines many aspects of the concept of civilization, including ways of thinking, building, painting, sculpting, writing, and making music. These topics are skillfully interrelated to form a single, fast-moving narrative that makes the reader part of the age-old quest for creative achievment and self-fulfillment. Art and Civilization is also an invaluable reference book that concentrates on specific works of art, both visual and literary. Each section begins with a general introduction outlining the historical background of the period under discussion, followed by explorations of a range of themes: Ideas, Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Literature, Drama, and Music. Many chapters include focus boxes that provide stimulating insights into the lives of influential men and women or offer deeper examinations of important developments that have affected civilization as a whole. Every work of art or architecture discussed is illustrated, and literary works are represented in both lengthy extracts and numerous short quotations. With 160 colorplates and 365 black-and-white illustrations, maps, plans, and timecharts, together with a detailed glossary and carefully chosen suggestions for further reading, Art and Civilization offers a stimulating introduction to the history of the arts and to the development of even newer and more complex ways of perceiving the world. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 12 |
Paleolithic culture | 18 |
Neolithic architecture | 24 |
Copyright | |
51 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
already American ancient architects architecture artists avant-garde Baroque Bauhaus became began building Byzantine Caravaggio career Cathedral century Christian Church classical color completely composition contemporary Cubism culture decorative developed Donatello drama early Egyptian Emperor Empire England English Estragon Europe European example fact figures Florence France French frescos Gallery genre German Gianlorenzo Bernini Gothic Greek High Renaissance human ideas important influence intellectual International Gothic Italian Italy Jacques-Louis David kind landscape late later literary literature London major Mannerist Masaccio medieval Michelangelo modern movement Museum narrative nature novel Oil on canvas opera original painter painting Paleolithic Paris Penguin Books Ltd period philosophy plays poem poet poetry political Pop Art portraits produced realistic religious Renaissance Rococo Roman Romanesque Rome Santa Constanza scenes sculpture seems sense shows style symbolic Symbolist things thought Titian traditional typical visual arts Vladimir Western writers