Latin American Art—Ancient to Modern

"Offers an extremely ambitious book that covers the artistic creativity of the peoples of Latin America from the earliest Paleo-Indians in 20,000 BCE to modern times, and from the southern tip of Argentina in the south to the Rio Grande in the north. . . . Very useful for undergraduate and graduate students of Latin American art.""--Choice

"An important text for arts and humanities courses, as it relates the arts to the life and politics of each age. One of few recent books with this kind of broad coverage." -- Library Journal

"An ambitious treatment of Latin American art throughout time and space. . . . This kind of comprehensive treatment is sorely needed in the field of art history and cultural studies. . . . I would certainly purchase this book, both for my own personal reading and for use as a required text."--Eloise Quinones Keber, City University of New York

In this history of the art of Latin America, John F. Scott traces the development of art in the region from pre-Columbian times to the present. Illustrated with 192 color and black-and-white photographs, Latin American Art spans all geographical areas and time periods.

Unique in its linking of pre-Columbian and Hispanic cultures, the book encompasses art forms ranging from sculpture, pottery, and painting to architecture, and cultures from the Ice Age to Classic civilizations, Native empires, and the colonial period of American viceroyalties, to independence and the 20th century. Relating the arts to the life and politics of each age, Scott addresses the major media, styles, and artists that defined each period, placing special emphasis on the areas that were the centers of high cultures and analyzing a few distinctive works from each, such as the Inca architecture at Cuzco and the great murals of Mexico.

Written in a straightforward and accessible style, Latin American Art will be an important text in arts and humanities courses. It will also be of value to art historians and to those interested in cultural studies, ethnic studies, and Latin America in general.

John F. Scott is professor of art history at the University of Florida. He has published several books on Latin American art, including Ancient Mesoamerica (UPF, 1987); Mexican, Central and South American Art; Art of the Taino of the Dominican Republic; and The Danzantes of Monte Alban, as well as numerous articles in English, Spanish, and German.