How to Read World History in Art: From the Code of Hammurabit to September 11

by Flavio Febbraro, Burkhard Shwetje

How does an artist’s interpretation of historical events alter our understanding of them? Kings, queens, presidents, and generals from Alexander the Great to Theodore Roosevelt have commissioned paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs of major events, and artists have responded to important moments with works that forever shape historical memory.   The book deals with specific episodes, from the proclamation of the Code of Hammurabi to more recent events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It also deals with broader themes, such as the founding of states (Persia, Rome, the Chinese Empire, the United States) and war (Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, Picasso’s Guernica ). Here too are the great voyages of exploration, the industrial revolution, and much more. World history is vividly elucidated in these works of art.

Genres: Art, History, Art History, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Catherine Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more like 2.75, this is a good book but the title is slightly misleading and not quite what I wanted. This is less about *understanding* history through art (why artistic, social, and political currents move the way they do; the influence of an art movement on a historical time period and vice versa; etc) and more just… rote facts about history via art. I would’ve liked this more if it had felt like less of a (slightly mishmash) collection of art representing the most important events in history and a more cohesive storyline of history through art.

[Call Me Ishmael · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a very good book.

It does go through the major points of history from 1792 code of Hammurabi through 911. It does use masterpieces of the events to explain the history. So, you do get a feeling for the timeline.

On the other hand, the explanations are weak. Where it does cover non-western events, those events are usually the ones that affect western relations. This isn't why I give it one star, but it's systematical of the books weakness.