Western Art History Series · Western Art Dictionary

Author: [British] James Hall
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Reveals the stories behind the images and interprets Western painting art. A dictionary on Western art themes and symbolic imagery, as well as an outline-style work on Western ancient classics.
Toolbox—Nearly 1,200 entries, arranged in Pinyin order, with a bilingual (English-Chinese) index and glossary for easy reference. Entries are cross-referenced within the text, yet interconnected while maintaining independence, creating a rigorous yet cohesive whole. Concise and vivid language conveys rich information with minimal words.
Professionalism—Unique in its focus on Western art themes and their origins, uncovering the stories behind the images and enhancing the understanding and appreciation of Western painting art, thereby elevating aesthetic taste. The only dictionary in China so far that explains Western art themes and symbolic imagery.
Accessibility—Civilization and art mutually validate each other. Art themes originate from Greek and Roman mythology and religious classics like the Bible, while artworks grant these latter eternal vitality. Not only for art professionals but also for literary enthusiasts and amateur art lovers.
Appreciation—Breaking the traditional practice of text-dominated, image-supplementary art dictionaries, it enhances the artistic appeal of images through their quantity, selection, quality, and size, restoring true artistry to art dictionaries. Over 800 illustrations of famous artworks provide visual comparisons for most entries, showcasing different artists' interpretations of the same theme.
The dialectic of the moment and eternity—Every artwork is a moment of emotional expression, and it is precisely this momentary surge of beauty that freezes both the artwork itself and ancient civilization in eternal time.