Explains to the average person how to understand, appreciate, and evaluate art, and discusses starting an art collection and where to go to see art.

"Do you love art but feel intimidated by it? Then this book is for you!" Anne Hawley, Director, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston "Long in coming, much needed, and clearly and accurately written. Congratulations, Tom." Peter L. Schaffer, A La Vieille Russie, New York Includes full-color gallery of great works of art! If youve wanted to take a closer look at art, but get intimidated by the art world, youll treasure Art For Dummies(R). In this down-to-earth guide, renowned art expert Thomas Hoving shows you how to get more out of a trip to the museum, from art appreciation 101 to a quick overview of major movements and artists. Discover how to: Look at art like an expert Get the most out of a museum Find the worlds best art collections Appreciate the worlds greatest masterpieces Start your own art collection Get smart! www dummies.com

Foreword.
Introduction.
PART I: Appreciating Art.
Chapter 1: What Is Art?
Chapter 2: How to Appreciate Art Without an Advanced Degree.
Chapter 3: How to Visit a Museum the Way the Pros Do.
PART II: Art through the Ages.
Chapter 4: Prehistoric Art (More Sophisticated Than You Would Believe).
Chapter 5: The Ancient World: Still the Most Exciting.
Chapter 6: Medieval Art (Definitely Not the Dark Ages).
Chapter 7: The Renaissance and Revivals.
Chapter 8: The Northern European "Renaissance".
Chapter 9: Mannerism: Sensuality and the Bizarre.
Chapter 10: The Baroque: The True Golden Age.
Chapter 11: The Sparkling 18th Century.
Chapter 12: Neoclassicism and the Romantic Twinge.
Chapter 13: Impressionism (The Poetry of the Land and Mankind).
Chapter 14: Post-Impressionism (Or Better, Pre-Modern).
Chapter 15: Modern Art: The Bold, the Beautiful, and the Not-So-Beautiful.
Chapter 16: Contemporary Art and Its "ISMs" (Not Always So Nice, but Ever Exciting).
Chapter 17: A Look at Art Beyond the Western World.
PART III: Beginning Your Own Collection.
Chapter 18: Getting Ready to Collect.
Chapter 19: How to Play the Buying Game.
PART IV: The Part of Tens. Chapter 20: The Greatest Works of Western Civilization.
Chapter 21: The Ten Most Interesting Artists (And Why).
Chapter 22: Ten Artists Worth Watching.
Chapter 23: How to Tell if Your Child Has Artistic Genius and Then What to Do.
PART V: Appendixes. Appendix A: Artspeak Unmasked.
Appendix B: The Professionals Checklist on How to Buy Art.
Appendix C: Art Chronology.
The Essential Guide to the Worlds Top Art Cities and Centers.
The Awesome Americas.
Europe (All Thats Worth a Detour). Non-Western Destinations.
Bibliography.
Index.