Pre-Columbian Art

by Esther Pasztory

Book Overview

When, in the sixteenth century, the Spanish conquistadors defeated the Aztec empire in Mexico and the Inca empire in Peru, their dreams of finding treasure in the New World were amply fulfilled. What... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521645514
• ISBN13: 9780521645515
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

well-written, thoughtful survey

This is a very easy to read yet comprehensive survey of Pre-Columbian art. Pasztory has the rare gift of conveying complex ideas clearly and concisely in a style that is a pleasure to read. The book is a general survey of Pre-Columbian art as a whole, with separate sections on Mesoamerican and Andean art, further broken down into chapters on each of the major components in both traditions. I know Mesoamerican art very well, and found her writeups to represent the current state of knowledge, while still providing insights into newer interpretations. This book is a pleasure, and ranks with her study of Teotihuacan (Experiment in Living).

Thorough, colorful, and fascinating

Professor Pasztory is a wonderful lecturer with an in-depth knowledge of the subject material. This comes through in her fine book, simply entitled Pre-Columbian Art. The pictures and the comments and descriptions that follow them clearly explain the information in a way that anyone can understand, whether one is a long-time student of pre-columbian art or the first-time viewer of the incredible works. Easy-to-read without being oversimplified, this work is a must-read for anyone with an interest in indigenous lifestyles.