Art History Textbooks ReviewsArt History Textbooks Reviews

Great reference, small variety
Unless you happen to still paste up keyline boards and need clip art to literally "clip out", the Dover Ready-to-Use books offer less images for the price. They're printed on slick, hard paper with nothing on the back of the page. I discovered that half of the same images were available in my other Dover reference books of similar themes. The picture variety spans a broad spectrum of the Middle Ages and Renaissance with lots of etchings and the occasional celtic knot. It's a good reference, just limited.

Clip Art
Of the Dover Books, this is one of the most interesting. The only caveat is they don't offer it with a CD like so many of their books. Highly recommend for hilighting projects. It adds alot of detail to manuscripts, music, etcetera.

It is still one of the most important books on the argument
Written in 1848-9, this book contains some of the most important manuscripts on the arts, like the MANOSCRITTO BOLOGNESE, HERACLIUS BOOK, MANUSCRIPT OF JEHANN LE BEGUE, ecc.. Each manuscript is in its original language together with the english translation. The introduction by M.P.Merrifield is still very interesting.

Insightful overview
The Arts of Japan did not go into as much detail as I had hoped it would, it was essentially an overview of generalized examples, and the format was not ideal for an art history book - there were the pages of text followed by the illustrations discussed in the text all grouped together at the end of the chapter, which works but is not my favorite format for discussing such subjects. Overall, however, the Arts of Japan is good if you're looking for an insightful glimpse into the art of different periods in Japanese history.

GREAT FLEMISH ART INFO
Unlike just a few years ago, today there are many books about Netherlandish and Flemish art of all periods. "From Rogier van Der Weyden to Gerard David" is a beautiful book filled with excellent color and b/w illustrations of the works being discussed. The authors are experts who give adequate details about the artist and his immediate circle, as well as the wider European influence on him and even the artist's effect upon the art world at that time and afterward. While the style is sedate and professional, it's never stodgy or overly academic, the authors being quite good at balancing the two. There are few gaps or unincluded details or individuals, so I can heartily recommend this for anyone who already loves Flemish art or those who want to learn more and to see clear, sharp reproductions of these incredible artists' work.