TravelingMom

We're headed to Florence in September, and I'm sure we'll be practically tripping over art while we're there. I took an art history course in college, but since I took it Pass/Fail my retention is pretty slim...just enough so that I know I'll be missing out!

I'd love to get a basic book of art history, or even one that focuses on Florence. In the course I took, I really enjoyed learning more details about the paintings - ie. - what was the story behind the paintings, brief explanation of techniques used, etc.

Any recommendations??

missypie

I'm sure that there are more intellectual choices, but I recommend making a reservation for the Uffizi for the first day you are there, and using the walking tour from the Rick Steves Florence book. Seriously. Rick concentrates on essentially one painting per room, so it isn't overwhelming. The thing that gives such a good history lesson is that the Uffizi is arranged chronologically, so you start with two dimensional religious art, then it gets a little more three dimensional, then fully three dimensional, but is still totally religious art, then some secular subjects start to creep in, etc. Rick blends information with humor, so it's very easy touring.

Also, for Florence, read the Agony and the Ecstacy. It's long, but you have until September. It will give you a great appreciation for the role Florence played in the development of western European art.

Marc_David_Miller

My wife is a prominent art collector and historian; she always recommends Janson's History of Art (there are numerous different versions, covering different areas) as the standard work for people starting to look at art. Also, Sister Wendy's video series is quite informative.

gustave

For any years in the U.S. Janson's "History of Art" was a staple.

http://www.amazon.com/History-Art-An.../dp/0131828959

It has been updated by his son.

LJ

There is also E.H. Gombrich's The Story of Art which is cleverly divided into chapters so you can cut right to the chase. But I second the idea of Sister Wendy...didn't the series have a companion book?

jsmith

The Teaching Company, www.teach12.com,
has a 36 half hour series called "Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance".

I haven't watched this but two others in the Fine Arts series, particularly, "From Monet to Van Gogh", were a great addition to our enjoyment of museums.

quokka

Another vote for Ernst H. Gombrich's "A Story of Art". Probably the best, and easiest to read, general book on art history I've ever come across, and since I'm an art historian myself, I've seen a few. That's the one book I should have read during my first semester (unfortunately I only did at the end of my studies, shortly before the final exams).

For some insight into Florence's history: Christopher Hibbert, The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici.

If you want more information on particular artists, wait till you get to Florence - there is a series of cheap books (Scala) available at all museum bookstores, tourist markets, any shop that sells postcards and stuff - each volume is about one artist and shows more or less the complete oeuvre in acceptable to good photographs. The series is available in several languages, so make sure to grab the English version.

Marc_David_Miller

Here is an earlier thread with a similar question:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34673951

yk

I want to second jsmith's suggestion. DH & I are big fans of the Teaching Company. They have excellent DVD series on Art, and we have purchased the Italian Renaissance DVD series and watched parts of it before our trip to Venice.

nancy1652

Two easy, but fun, reads are Rick Steves' "Mona Winks" and "Europe 101."

LJ

Quokka, in my first year of university, my art history prof used Gombrich as primary text: (many, many, many) years later, a local newspaper interviewed a group of women and asked us the book that had most shaped our vision of the world...it was a no-brainer for me.

violetduck

Check out www.ricksteves.com for his
Europe 101 book. We have an older one
that I think is out of print but we
found very helpful. The newer one
could be purchased from his website,
Amazon or check a bookstore.

SuQue

RIck Steves' "Mona Winks" is also a good tour of Europe's top art museums.

Zerlina

Somehow, I don't think Rick Steves is what TravelingMom is looking for...

She said she is looking for art history; this is what amazon.com says about Mona Blinks

>>Steves's approach to great art is the surgical strike: get in, see what's worth seeing, and get out while you can still tell the difference between a Goya and a Degas--and still care!<<

smarty

There are several pertinent volumes in the Thames & Hudson WORLD OF ART series. These books are authoritative yet accessible and provide a good quick study.

TravelingMom

Wow - these are great responses! I'll have to say, I'm not too sure the librarian was too pleased with me today...the local library only had a few of these on the shelves so the poor guy had to fill out a whole bunch of library loan forms.

Now, if I could only convince my 3-year old that these books were good bedtime stories...

Sassafrass

For just the Renaissance and a lot about work in Florence, The Art of The Italian Renaissance: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Drawing, is fantastic. This amazing book is my absolute favorite Art History book for Italy. It is expensive, but has great photos. It offers excellent, indepth discussions about the Baptistery doors and the Duomo, etc., and the details of paintings, artists, sculpture, etc. that you mentioned you enjoyed.

For just a good Art History book that is not overwhelming, but not superficial either, I highly recommend The Annotated Mona Lisa, A Crash Course in Art History From Prehistoric to Post-Modern. Different periods and styles of art are each given very good introductions. Then several artists within each style/period are compared/contrasted. It really teaches you how to look at art work, and understand the thinking of different periods.

Another good overall is The History Of Art, published by Lowe & B. Hould. Each chapter covers a period or style and is wrtten by an expert in that area.

One good series of books is the Masters Of Art Series: clear, concise, informative, great illustrations. The Story of Sculpture is very good.

I was a painting/art history teacher and took my students on trips to Italy. The best part of the trip for me, was watching their faces when they saw, for the first time, a real work of art that they had only seen in books or slides before. I hope you have a wonderful time in Florence.

Sue_xx_yy

Second Mark David Miller's recommendation for Sister Wendy. The series (often available in libraries: I believe it's now out on DVD as well as VHS) is great at removing the 'intimidation' factor from art galleries.