Art Books For Non-Art Person

[bicycle]

History of Art, H.W. Janson. The standard. It covers everything from cave
paintings to modern, living artists. Goes into African, Middle Eastern,
Oriental and tribal art, though it's main focus is western art. Covers
painting & drawing, sculpture, architecture, photography and decorative
art. It doesn't get too deep, as far as individual artists, but it's
thorough in it's scope. About 800 pages, Color plates, probably about $45

History of Modern Art H.H. Arnason. Starts in the Late 18th century.
Painting, sculpture, architecture and photography. About 700 pages. Very
similar to the Janson Book. Color plates, all western art.

Mainstreams of Modern Art. John Canaday Paperback, a few color plates.
Starts in the 1780's with David and the French revolution. Gets more into
the history of the times than H. of M.A., covers the same time frame.

I don't know where you live, but if you're anywhere near New York (within
a light year or so) I'd suggest you spend a week touring the Metropolitan
Museum of Art. Going to the Met to learn about art is like going to France
to learn French. You don't have to do anything. Just be there and observe
and absorb. You won't come out with a Ph D. in Art History, but you will
have a better understanding of your own interest areas.