This book was written by the Jansons—father and son—to make art history accessible to families, and especially to pre-college kids and young adults. In this, the Sixth Edition, their passion for art and their unsurpassed gift for telling the story of art have never been clearer or more appealing. Beginning with the expressive horses painted on cave walls in prehistoric southern France, History of Art for Young People carries the narrative of Western art history forward through thousands of years, right up to today's cheerfully eclectic Postmodern buildings and idiosyncratic artworks. The Sixth Edition combines the best of the classic Janson tradition with features that make art history rewarding to understand and easy to remember.
Two-thirds of the nearly 600 illustrations are in color. Handy capsule explanations of concepts, events, symbols, techniques, and historical events and figures—placed in the margins near the main text where they are mentioned—enliven the reading and add a reference dimension to the book. Boxed essays offer basics on parallel cultural developments. A Primer of Art History, which precedes the Jansons' Introduction, explains what art history is and what to expect when reading about it.
583 illustrations, including 389 plates in full color, 4 maps, 4 chronological tables, glossary, bibliography, and index.
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