The Image of the Black in Western Art, Volume II: From the Early Christian Era to the "Age of Discovery", Part 1: From the Demonic Threat to the ... (The Image of the Black in Western Art, II)

The Image of the Black in Western Art is our most valuable and desired series of art history books we have begun to collect. We are fully committed to purchasing one or two them every month --- especially as art lovers wanting a more comprehensive rendering of the full Black experience across the world's fine arts. This series effectively and very informatively presents the art history that is very difficult to find in most bookstores, or learn through the usual college art curriculum. After buying 3 volumes so far, it was clear this was a very good investment in art literature for us and the entire family. No truer and fuller understanding of art history should be presumed or assumed without referencing this series.

You would think a wordy, highbrow art book would be a drag.It isn't.It's as vibrant as the images on its cover.The series has advanced quite a bit since this volume was published but this one remains my favorite. Africans depicted in Western Art become almost stereotypes and that journey has an interesting start in this volume.The image of the knight on the cover though was an inspirational one for my son. When the kids in his school would do Medieval subjects, he would sometimes ask where all the black kids were. The idea of a "moorish" knight appealed to him not just because he identified with the subject, but because it let him tell a different story about the "age of Chivalry" in his class projects.The series is outstanding.

Great book. I knew it was more to african culture than chains, whips, rape and slavery. Kudos to dr. David bindman and dr. Henry Louis gates jr. My art history students love this book. To find out that the renaissance movement was created by african people was an amazing find.

A wonderful comprehensive historical review of African Americans and their depiction in ...and long contribution to ....ArtThe books present CENTURIES of images from across the world but particularly the continents of Africa, Europeand North America. I am proud to own this series as books I read for pleasure and for reference. I will purchase the others as they are released! These books were a big part of my Christmas gift 2011 ....I put them on my list and many were boughtfor me. Highly recommend All the books in this series.New Jersey

Very happy with it would buy from again.

Fantastic historic information.

Well...not surprised, it's very Eurocentric, like the first volume, the commentary is what it is, pics in this volume don't show the Black madonna or Black Jesus...and literally every single Black Knight or Saint shown is named St. Maurice, like he was the only one lol. It's good for the photos, but please be aware that it is heavily Eurocentric, they will never be able to really admit the truth.

I was looking for more in-depth understanding into this era. Most of this information can be found by doing a Google search however this book is good for the entry-level story. It is obvious that they did not choose photographs that you picked out early Jesus as being a black boy and Mary as a black woman. Obviously they didn't make the connection of black Madonna to the early Jesus. This book was heavily jaded to protect Christianity and not give a accurate historical depiction of the origins in the blackness of Jesus. This book obviously is generated for white White Anglo Saxon Protestants.