Cave Art

Description

This book reveals some of the world s oldest and most remarkable works of art, the discovery of which transformed the way we think about the development of human artistic endeavour and creativity. A guided tour of European prehistoric caves by world-renowned expert Jean Clottes, Cave Art brings together an unparalleled selection of spectacular and beautiful images of wall paintings, mysterious rock engravings and refined sculptures, all accompanied by accessible, informative text.

Jean Clottes (b. 1933) is one of the world's leading specialists in prehistoric art. A researcher and academic, Clottes is an expert for the International Committee on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS- UNESCO) and president of the International Federation of Rock Art Organizations (IFRAO). He is the author and co-author of numerous reference works about Palaeolithic art, including Chauvet Cave: The Art of Earliest Times (2001), World Rock Art (2002) and The Shamans of Prehistory (2007).

'Art, as this book makes beautifully clear, is a fundamental part of the human condition. - [an] accessible and well-organised book - This book [ - ] should please anybody interested in either art or prehistory - And, in our fast-paced 21st-century world where art is so often equated with ephemeral values, it's salutary to be reminded of painting's enduring place in a society that lasted five times longer than the whole of recorded history.' Art World, August 2008 'this sumptuous book improves on the reality: there are almost 250 photographs here, showing some of the finest examples of this mysterious underground art. - If you want to really pore over this magnificent prehistoric artistic tradition, this is the book for you.' David Musgrove, BBC History Magazine, September 2008