A Chronology of Art: A Timeline of Western Culture from Prehistory to the Present

by Iain Zaczek

Most surveys of the history of art are divided into historic periods, artistic schools, and movements. In reality, movements and artists’ careers overlap and intertwine, reacting to events in the world around them. By prioritizing a purely chronological approach, A Chronology of Art illuminates these relationships from a fresh perspective and places the developments of the art world into context with one another.


Structured around a central timeline covering Ancient Medieval, Renaissance Baroque, Rococo Neoclassicism, Romanticism Beyond, and The Modern Era, the book features lavish illustrations of artworks, together with commentaries, and lively “In Focus” features with information about the social, stylistic, technical, political, and cultural events of each period.


This approach reveals little- known connections: the most illustrious Neoclassical painting (David’s Oath of the Horatii) was executed just a couple of years after one of the best-known Romantic scenes (Fuseli’s The Nightmare); and American artist James Whistler, who had attended West Point Military Academy, was creating his finest work in Europe at the very time when his homeland was being torn apart by civil war.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, Art History, Reference

288 pages, Hardcover

Published February 27, 2018

Reviews

[Katerina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Важнейшие, по мнению авторов, произведения западного искусства в контексте происходящих политических и общественных событий.

Амбициозная, но довольно бестолковая книга (и еще и дорогая, почти за те же деньги можно купить столь же качественно изданного Гомбриха и получить четкое понимание всего искусства на свете). Хронология пляшет то веками, то десятилетиями, а по набору исторических событий получается, натурально, "в огороде бузина, а в Киеве дядька".

Издано красиво, иллюстрации можно поразглядывать, но внятной картины не сложится, так что этот внушительный альбом можно смело подарить какому-нибудь не особо дорогому вам человеку, который полистает, вежливо поставит его на полку и никогда больше не откроет.

На полке, впрочем, смотрится нормально, желтый корешок, знаете, такой симпатичный.

[Amanda Gatlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a lot out of the timeline of historical Western events juxtaposed with the art. Historical context can change how you see art. And to view Western art from 30,000 BC up to 2017 in fewer than 300 pages gives a bird’s eye view of human history. Like others have said, the subtitle should probably have been more obvious—this is absolutely just Western culture represented here.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

You need to read closer to see it's just western art. And a narrow view of that. Gorgeous reproductions are about all it has going for it. (They really are beautiful.)

I didn't find it gave much context to the pieces or developments of movements. Also irked that as soon as the clock ticked to 0 CE it becomes the Christian era and while haltingly acknowledges some pagan art it pretty much drops it.

Also believe it or not there were Jewish artists and artworks in the west. But the closest mention is Rembrandt's Jewish Bride, which quite likely wasn't, and isn't the name he gave it. The first woman to be mentioned is Artemisia, though I did appreciate the nod to some of the female pre-Raphaelites. I was hoping in a newer book there might be more acknowledgement that art and history (and art history) had women and people of color and non-Christians than my old art history textbooks did, but still waiting.

[Marisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

i do not understand the logic between what works were and were not included in this volume, as the overwhelming bulk is european, with random additions from the rest of the world, ultimately doing a disservice to everyone outside the European canon, but also clearly making the book not a chronology of WESTERN art. The highlighted works are not the ones I would have selected.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice looking and well laid out overview of art history in the context of world history. The only downside was that I didn't notice initially that it focused only on Western culture - though that is in the subtitle.

[Jenny Fiero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic history of the world events and arts. So interesting; Read every word.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Library wanted it back before I got through the entire book. I deep-read through page 63. I skimmed the rest. Excellent overview! I want to check this out again some time. I learned a lot.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the timeline really informative. The historical snippets led me to a lot of interesting side research.

[Ee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginner's guide to Western art (and probably world history).