The Humanistic Tradition, Book 4: Faith, Reason, and Power in the Early Modern World

by Gloria K. Fiero

In Volume Four, readers are exposed to the cornerstones of the early modern world, from the age of the Baroque to the art, music, and culture of the eighteenth century. As in previous volumes, the author presents lively discussion accompanied by literary excerpts and examples to illuminate a variety of topics, including Catholicism's global reach, the birth of modern philosophy, the political theories of Hobbes and Locke, the Enlightenment, and the music of Hayden and Mozart, to name a few.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Art, Humanities, History, Collections

180 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

Reviews

[Nicky]

Fiero's textbooks are generally sufficient for the beginning student of art history. There are several nice points such as excerpts from philosophical writings or the author's commentary on the interplay of art and politics or religion. However, there are some serious flaws. The indices are sparse and not helpful at all when reviewing the material; artists' names, art movements, key terms and techniques are often omitted. The format of splitting the text into multiple smaller books is a tremendous hindrance when the author references paintings or sculpture that appear in the other books. So overall, I would recommend seeking another text.

[Tisha]

I read these for my Art Appreciation class is College and have since gone back many times to review in more depth since than. Great summary of art history during specific time periods.