eBook A History of Fine Arts in India and the West download

I used this book as a textbook in my undergraduate program BFA in India. A good one to begin with.

A History Of Fine Arts In India And The West
The 532 pages book authored by Dr.(Sr).Edith Tömöry was first published by Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd.-New Delhi in 1982. There have been about 11 subsequent editions of the book in the years 1989, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2009 respectively. Dr. Edith Tömöry’s passion for art and its dissemination is on display in this art survey book titled ‘A History of Fine Arts in India and the West’. As the title indicates the book itself is a treasure trove of facts relating to Indian and Western art. The cover design of the book endorses this as well. The art of the country/period has been painstakingly chronicled under three broad categories −architecture, sculpture and painting and minor art forms like mosaics and stained glass of the Medieval period in the west
A general historical and religious survey introduces the reader to the context of the art of India. Indian art has been given special attention and the survey examines all major visual art forms from the proto-historical period to the modern. The art of the great country has been analyzed and chronicled in a methodical manner. The details include brick size, site sizes and architectural measurements. The development of pillars and domes has been precisely expressed through line drawings. Another value addition is the illustration of the major Hindu iconic mudras, asanas, bhangas and jewellery through precise line drawings. The geographical history of Indian art has been spelt out through nine maps showing the various empires of India.
An insightful chronological survey of Western art across geographies has been presented with the chapterization beginning with Ancient Egyptian art, proceeding to the European historical traditions and culminating with Modern art of the twentieth century. For the art of the west the author has prefaced every chapter with a general historical and religious survey of the period/region. Major places of importance in the west have been cited in a map that is appended at the end of the book. The art of each period/region has been studied in an unambiguous and systematic manner.
As the author’s intention was to write a basic text book for the student community the format of the book itself is simple with line drawings and over 225 half tone illustrations in black and white only. Colour illustrations would have cost the student dearly. However the visuals are guide enough to have a basic understanding of the art form that it illustrates. The half tone images that illustrate paintings, sculpture and architecture are inserted at the end of the book. Line drawings however have been employed alongside the text for all categories, all through the book to enrich the student’s understanding of the art form. Architectural innovations especially have been pictorially clarified through labeled ground plans and elevations. A glossary that spells out technical terms used in Indian and Western art history writing is also appended. The exhaustive bibliography should serve as a good aid to any art student/ art lover.
For the 80s this book must have been a landmark work and a godsend economical version of the many prohibitively expensive art books. The voluminous content, all within the covers of one book makes it truly a rare one. It is little wonder then that this book is very much in use presently too in many institutions.