The Picture Box: A Very Short Introduction: (Very Short Introductions)

These are the books that are perfect to pop in your pocket now packaged to make the ideal gift! This set features five of the best-selling introductory books on art and architecture from the highly acclaimed "Very Short Introductions" series packaged in a stylish case to make the ideal gift or way-in to the vast area of art and architecture. This boxed set gives a great introductory overview to the subject of art and architecture, from the fascinating images created by the renaissance artists to the beauty of practical objects in everyday life. "Art History: A Very Short Introduction" by Dana Arnold (ISBN-10: 0-19-280181-3/ISBN-13: 978-0-19-280181-4) - This clear and concise new introduction examines all the major debates and issues using a wide range of well-known examples. It discusses the challenge of using verbal and written language to analyse a visual form. Dana Arnold also examines the many different ways of writing about art, and the changing boundaries of the subject of art history. "Renaissance Art: A Very Short Introduction" by Geraldine A. Johnson (ISBN-10: 0-19-280354-9/ISBN-13: 978-0-19-280354-2) - Botticelli, Holbein, Leonardo, Durer, Michelangelo: the names are familiar, as are the works, such as the Last Supper fresco, or the monumental marble statue of David. But who were these artists, why did they produce such memorable images, and how would their original beholders have viewed these objects? "Modern Art: A Very Short Introduction" by David Cottington (ISBN-10: 0-19-280364-6/ISBN-13: 978-0-19-280364-1) - As public interest in modern art continues to grow, as witnessed by the spectacular success of Tate Modern and the Bilbao Guggenheim, this much-needed, accessible introduction grapples clearly and provocatively with the complex idea of modern art. "Architecture: A Very Short Introduction" by Andrew Ballantyne (ISBN-10: 0-19-280179-1/ISBN-13: 978-0-19-280179-1) - 'a densely fascinating guide' - Steven Poole, "The Guardian Review". This highly original and sophisticated look at architecture helps us to understand the cultural significance of the buildings that surround us. It avoids the traditional style-spotting approach in favour of giving an idea of what it is about buildings that moves us, and what it is that makes them important artistically and culturally. "Design: A Very Short Introduction" by John Heskett (ISBN-10: 0-19-285446-1/ISBN-13: 978-0-19-285446-9) - 'This is the best book I have read about the design process and is based on the belief that design matters profoundly to us all in innumerable ways.' - Terence Conran. John Heskett wants to transform the way we think about design by showing how integral it is to our daily lives, from the spoon we use to eat our breakfast cereal, and the car we drive to work in, to the medical equipment used to save lives. Design combines 'need' and 'desire' in the form of a practical object that can also reflect the user's identity and aspirations through its form and decoration. It also includes a copy of the new edition of "A Very Short Introduction to Everything".

Table of Contents:
Art History: A Very Short Introduction by Dana Arnold; Renaissance Art: A Very Short Introduction by Geraldine A. Johnson; Modern Art: A Very Short Introduction by David Cottington; Architecture: A Very Short Introduction by Andrew Ballantyne; Design: A Very Short Introduction by John Heskett; Plus a copy of the new edition of A Very Short Introduction to Everything