“[A] mix of erudition and visual humor. . . .”—Wall Street Journal
“Art, architecture, history, and culture come together seamlessly in this comprehensive illustrated overview of Western art imported from France. Even adults and older readers who think they know it all will be pleasantly surprised to find that there is something new to learn in this whimsically illustrated but exceptionally thorough survey.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A lively survey of Western art history.”—Publishers Weekly
“Glances at milestones in architecture, book arts, and stained glass do expand the general focus on painting and sculpture; better yet, in both the running narrative and the declamatory remarks of the artists and onlookers, Augustin enriches the flow of name checks with notes on watershed stylistic shifts (“Zeus’s thunder!” exclaims the admirer of a Greek vase. “It’s the beginning of a revolution in Greek art! To show what the eye perceives!”), new media, and technical advances. Time lines reinforce the presentation’s chronological structure; occasional footnotes and a glossary at the end will help out readers a bit hazy on the meanings of terms like basilica or contrapposto; and a closing section features small photos of major pieces with additional descriptive notes.”—School Library Journal
“The narrative moves at a fast pace. . . .”—The Horn Book