Art of the Andes: From Chavín to Inca (Second Edition) (World of Art)
by Rebecca Stone

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Book Reviews of Art of the Andes: From Chavín to Inca (Second Edition) (World of Art)

Book Review: Balanced and Astute
Summary: 5 Stars

Another strength of the book is the nicely-judged balance of attention that the author pays to the multitude of cultures (including the Chavin, Nasca, Moche, Wari, Tiwanaku, Chimu, and Inca, to name just some) that weave together into the Andean tapestry. The author also provides balanced coverage of all the arts -- metalwork, tapestry, featherwork, stone working, and architecture, in addition to the ever-popular ceramics (pottery).

With so much ground to cover, there are relatively few individual ceramic examples in the book; this unfortunately gives a too-restricted an idea of the range of form, beauty, and variety of Pre-Columbian pottery from South America. I recommend a book such as "Ceramics of Ancient Peru," by Christopher B. Donnan, as a supplement to Rebecca Stone-Miller's study.

A small number of errors have made it through the second edition. For example, the distance from Quito to Santiago is quoted as 3400 miles, rather than the correct 3400 kilometers. A bothersome number of specialized terms were left out of the index. A glossary would have been helpful, and one wishes that more of the photos had been printed in color rather than black and white.

In summary, "Art of the Andes" is a balanced and insightful survey that should appeal to a wide variety of readers. It's the kind of book that doesn't just sit on the shelf after one reading, but gets picked up again, thumbed through, and read more than once.

Summary of Art of the Andes: From Chavín to Inca (Second Edition) (World of Art)

This wide-ranging survey has established itself as the best single-volume introduction to Andean art and architecture.

Art History Books

• Subjects > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism
• Schools, Periods & Styles > Ancient & Classical
• Social Sciences