From Giotto to Cezanne: A Concise History of Painting

By Michael Levey

Book Overview

This book presents a fresh, balanced and complete picture of the whole of Western painting from Giotto to Cezanne. Michael Levey has triumphantly succeeded in organizing the mass of material, in giving it proportion and in conveying by carefully selected examples the essential quality of each artist. It is not a mere "potted" version of familiar facts - every judgment is genuinely felt and personally expressed, while the style sparkles with elegance and wit. Even those readers who know the subject thoroughly will find it rewarding for the concise comments which often sum up in a single sentence a whole complicated response to a picture. It is a volume to kindle enthusiasm, and at the same time provides an immensely informative "first book" of art history for both teachers and students.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500200246
• ISBN13: 9780500200247
• Release Date: February 1985
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A Concise History of Painting by Levey

This book contains many famous paintings in full color.For this reason alone, it is worth the price. (You) imaginehaving a replication of the "Creation of Adam" byMichelangelo. There is a detailed critique which accompanieseach picture. This book would be very helpful for seriousart students and patrons of the fine arts. It would be a gemfor any student doing a book report. The work would beinvaluable for any art patron preparing to visit a local museumto view some of the pieces depicted . The purchase isa worthy addition to any history of art collection orportion thereof.

Great Introduction to Painting

I have owned this book for many years and regard it as a treasured old friend. Accordingly, I have been moved to write a review of this book in an attempt to correct the unreasonable calumnies put upon it in the earlier customer review. 'Frpm Giotto to Cezanne' is probably the best introduction to the history of painting that anybody could have. It also has the added bonus that Levey's prose is lucid and intelligent. Criticising this book because it doesn't deal with more female artists is a silly canard. I'm sick and tired of people thinking that we have to be politically correct in our attitude to the past. This book isn't meant to be a detailed history of painting but a concise introduction to the most important artists and their works. Artemisia Gentileschi is simply not important or good enough to be included. Neither were most of the American artists of the period, when the US was a cultural backwater.