A Concise History of Painting from Giotto to Cézanne

A Concise History of Painting from Giotto to Cézanne offers a clear survey of Western painting from the early Renaissance to the late nineteenth century. Michael Levey traces the major movements and artists in concise, readable chapters. This digital PDF edition is available for instant download after purchase.

The book starts with Giotto and his Florentine contemporaries. It continues through Duccio, Piero della Francesca, and the Venetian painters. It then moves to northern Europe with van Eyck, Dürer, Bosch, and Bruegel.

Book Overview

A Concise History of Painting from Giotto to Cézanne is a classic introduction to the history of painting, written by Michael Levey. It covers major artists and schools from Giotto to Cézanne. The edition presented here includes 549 colour plates.

This edition is published by Thames and Hudson in London and reprinted in 1977. The book is organized into six chronological sections, from the Early Renaissance in Italy to Romanticism and Cézanne.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• A survey of Italian painting from Giotto through Botticelli, Piero della Francesca, Mantegna, and Giovanni Bellini.
• Northern Renaissance coverage of van Eyck, Fouquet, Dürer, Grünewald, Holbein, Bosch, and Bruegel.
• The later Renaissance, including Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese.
• The seventeenth century, with Caravaggio, Poussin, Claude, Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez, and Dutch painting including Rembrandt and Vermeer.
• Rococo to Goya, including Watteau, Chardin, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Goya.
• Romanticism to Cézanne, covering Fuseli, Blake, Turner, Constable, Delacroix, Courbet, Impressionism, Gauguin, van Gogh, and Cézanne.
• 549 colour plates supporting the chronological narrative.

Why This Book Matters

Michael Levey’s concise history is a dependable starting point for readers exploring the story of painting. The book’s structure helps connect periods and national schools. A Sunday Times review quoted in the product details calls it “Outstanding…accurate, free from prejudice, always neat, often stimulating.”

Its broad scope makes it useful for students, museum visitors, and general readers seeking a reliable overview.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download in PDF format. There is no physical shipping, and access is available immediately after purchase.

The PDF can be opened on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones using a PDF reader or compatible reading app. It works with Kindle apps and other applications that support PDF files.

FAQ

How soon will I receive the book? Access is available right after purchase, and the PDF can be downloaded immediately.

Will a physical copy be shipped? No, this is a digital edition. No physical item will be mailed.

Which devices are supported? The PDF works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, and mobile reading apps that accept PDF files.

Add this concise history of painting to your digital library today and explore seven centuries of European art.

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