A History of European Art

Ever wish you could ask Leonardo Da Vinci to explain the Mona Lisa? Well, The Teaching Company has arranged the next best thing in this 48-lecture series that features Professor William Kloss, Independent Art Historian for the Smithsonian Institute. Taking viewers on a journey back in time to 800 A.D., Kloss works his way up through the artists and art movements of the past 1,200 years, all the while keeping in mind the historical/cultural context of a changing Europe. Kloss begins by introducing five ways of looking at art (subject, interpretation, style, context, and emotion), illustrating each of his points by comparing works devoted to similar subjects, showing how each element comes into play in creating one's overall experience of art. Offering a fascinating, informative survey that features in-depth looks at the major works of European art, this is sure to be a welcome addition for high school and academic libraries (to supplement their own regular or distance ed courses, or for students wishing to explore topics not offered by their local institution), as well as a solid choice for public libraries serving adult learners (course guidebooks featuring a wealth of resources, including timelines, maps, and transcripts are available separately). Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)