How to Read Paintings: Learn about masterpieces from art history (Looking at Art)

I initially took a gamble on reading this book as my first real introduction to understanding fine art in hopes that its claim of a less linear embrace of art history would be more effective in igniting some passion for this great lack of knowledge I have on the subject. I was afraid that if we started the clock too far back, I would lose interest early on and then not really have the chance to engage with works that might appeal directly to me.I also wanted to read an introduction like this because I was researching a character for an upcoming novel, who I imagined might compare his love to the art he studied in his life. I suppose I hoped I would take the bare essentials away, and feel adequately confident in exploring that character's mind.Now, all timelines have been thrown off, because of what an excellent job Mr. Jones does in this short but lively collection of thoughts. Now, instead, it is myself who seeks more and more from art, who is set about this wild path of exploration and romance. The novel I feel must shift entirely - I feel the character would best follow my own trajectory now, and feel a whole world open up to them like it has for me, rather than have intimate knowledge to draw upon. I feel there's something much more urgent and real in that pursuit, and its connection to the pursuit of romance, than there is in simply 'knowing art and seeing it in things'.That's the kind of shift this book has allowed me. I've been converted from a person who wants to know things concretely about their world, to a person who wants to continually experience the sheer overwhelming immensity of a world that always has another perspective to offer. And Mr. Jones is to blame with his accessible, honest and humbling introduction to a world that he himself is evidently still losing himself in all these years later.

I love this book. It is insightful, informative and very easy to read! Each painting is discussed in an informal way, with a short biography about the artist. There is a great mix of well known and lesser known paintings. The author has also given an insight at the back of the book about his own experience of analysing art and how you can further develop your understanding further.

A gift for someone who is interested in art.

I found this book to be incredibly useful, particulary in how to look at a painting and understand its complexities and history. To be able to look deeper into a piece of art and stand in a gallery to admire the story behind it becomes much easier once you've read How to Read Paintings. The pictures are in black and white, but that doesn't matter - the writing is so good that you're able to understand everything the author tells you with ease. I really enjoyed reading this book and will take it with me whenever I go to visit a gallery. Such a brilliant companion for anyone interested in art and paintings.

The book and its description are fine though the fact that all photographs are in black and white rather detracts from the reader experience and interpretation.

If you're interested in art but are often confused at what you're looking at and why or how a painting has been created the way it has, then this book makes an enjoyabe read.

This little book is very user friendly and gives the reader a good understanding of the paintings discussed.The author's own personal experiences when discovering art many years ago only add to the book's charm.I am looking forward to when I next visit an art gallery and am able to put the author's tips into practice.

Christopher Jones presents a way of looking at and appreciating art. That’s fine but what makes this book so rewarding is that he goes beyond this by using his method to appreciate actual art. I found many examples of art which I already knew and others which were new to me. In both cases I learned a lot.

This is another of his 3 books. As a non-artist trying to learn, I’ve bought many thick books, which I’ve enjoyed & from which I’ve learned much.This series is unique. These editions have excellent color photos & brief, highly readable essays on how to “read” art, that teach how to understand their meaning, symbolism & composition. I’ve learned things in this series that were not in other excellent art books.He closes with an amazing essay on looking at art as an “Experiment”, & a list of recommended readings. I’ve read some & I’ll get the rest. (If not in print, I search the used bookstores online.)When I read his books, it’s like having a personal guide, speaking directly to me.

I enjoy reading it but don't expect too much, just some info here and there about some art pieces that he considered representing different periods in art history.

A presentation of 20 famous paintings with a brief overview and insightful comments on them. There were many artists and artworks I had never seen before, and I feel grateful to the author for including them in his book. Thanks to his guiding, I discovered things I had never noticed before, and these masterworks re-emerged in a different light. In the last two chapters the author gives us some very useful tips on how to approach a painting and how to get the artists' message from it. It was a very good read and I recommend it to anyone who wants get familiar with the art of painting.

It was a pleasure reading this book. It made me appreciate better paintings. The space dedicated to each painting is perfect.

What I love about the book is that it is easy to understand. The Author selects a painting from each major period of the Art History timeline, chooses a painting with most of the symbolism from that period and explains it clearly. I think that someone even without an Art History degree would be able to understand it.The book is a good length, not too long and not too thick. A great book for college students to keep in their backpack as a guide on how to write about a painting. Comes with photos.Kuddos to the author! He is also on Medium.com