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Description of  The Social History of Art: Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque

First published in 1951, Arnold Hausers commanding work presents an account of the development and meaning of art, from its origins in the Stone Age through to the Film Age. This new edition of a classic work explores historical and social movements and the effects these have had on the production of art the centrality of class and class struggle, the cultural roles of ideologies and the determining influence of modes of economic development. There are 144 illustrations within the four volumes and each volume has a new general introduction by Jonathan Harris which traces the history of Hausers project, discusses the relevance of the work for art history today, provides a synopsis of Hausers narrative, and offers a critical guide that highlights major themes, trends and arguments.