Art history is more than just a collection of dates and
foreign–sounding names, obscure movements and arcane isms. Every
age, for the last 50,000 years has left its unique imprint on
the world, and from the first cave paintings to the ceiling of
the Sistine Chapel, from the Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia
Sophia, to the graffiti–inspired paintings of Jean–Michel
Basquiat, art history tells the story of our evolving notions of
who and what we are and our place in the universe. Whether
you’re an art enthusiast who’d like to know more about the
history behind your favorite works and artists, or somebody who
couldn’t tell a Titian and a De Kooning—but would like to— Art
History For Dummies is for you. It takes you on a tour of thirty
millennia of artistic expression, covering the artistic
movements, major artists, and indispensable masterworks, and the
world events and cultural trends that helped spawn them. With
the help of stunning black–and–white photos throughout, and a
sixteen–page gallery of color images, it