Art Through the Ages

Art Through the Ages is a seminal textbook on art history authored by Helen Gardner. First published in 1926, it became a widely read and standard-setting work due to its readability, comprehensive coverage, and abundant illustrations. Gardner, an American art historian and educator, aimed to fill the need for a single-volume textbook that encompassed a broad scope of art history. The book has undergone revisions and expansions, with multiple editions sold over the decades. The definition of art itself is broad, encompassing diverse media like painting, sculpture, and photography, and can range from purely aesthetic to utilitarian purposes.12