Art For Dummies by Thomas Hoving
Art For Dummies is a comprehensive guide to the art world, written by the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, Thomas Hoving.
The book provides an introduction to art appreciation, guiding readers through the details that they may have noticed but never been able to explain.
Hoving takes readers on a ride through art history, starting with the Lascaux Caves and going through the ages up to the modern period. He gives examples of each period and area of interest, discussing what the pieces were made of and what they look like.
The book also discusses the idea of building up your ‘eye’ for art and becoming a connoisseur. It provides plenty of samples and pieces, making it easy for readers to delve into the art world. Hoving defines the topic of art and discusses how confusing it can be since it is so subjective.
He talks about spotting fakes and replicas over originals and makes bullet point lists about everything, making it easy to take in.
What I Liked
Good reference book
What I Did Not Like
Nothing – it’s a straightforward introduction.
- Comprehensive guide to the art world
- Introduces art appreciation effectively
- Easy to understand with bullet point lists
- Nothing - it's a straightforward introduction.
