Reviews

This is the story, in pictures and words, of the art of Europe when talent and time converged to create an explosive and enduring mix as intense as the century in which it unfolded. Chu (art history, Seton Hall Univ.; French Realism and the Dutch Masters) superbly conveys the interconnectedness of art, history, culture, society, and politics in easy-to-digest fashion. A broad selection of issues and artists-including such luminaries as Goya, Delacroix, Ruskin, and Caspar David Friedrich-are brought together and accorded a commonality that transcends their styles and sentiments. Chu approaches Europe's century of unprecedented social and political change in 20 chronologically arranged chapters, taking readers from the emergence of Rococo to the Paris Exposition of 1900. The lives of individual artists are seamlessly incorporated into the broader intellectual and artistic stage. With more than 500 illustrations (200 in color) and sidebars focusing on specific topics, the volume is well assembled, eloquently written, and deeply engaging. This era is already well covered, but this new volume is among the best single-volume resources. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Edward K. Owusu-Ansah, CUNY Coll. of Staten Island Lib. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.