Understanding Art is a two-volume, fully illustrated work that strives to explain and discuss four important periods in the history of western art—the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. It aims to create a sense of understanding, recognition, and appreciation of art by analysing, within the four periods, three distinct artistic genres: painting; sculpture; and architecture. Besides the excellence of the illustrations, one of the great virtues of this book is its clear and concise explanations. It is truly an excellent first stop for anyone embarking on a serious study of art—or anyone wishing to refresh his or her memory of the facts about the art history of the western world.