Many Are Culled But Few Are Chosen: Janson's History of Art, Its Reception, Emulators, Legacy, and Current Demise

Abstract

Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition, by Penelope J.E. Davies et al., 7th ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education 2007). Pp. xxxi, 1153, bibl., index. Cloth: ISBN 0-131-93455-4, US$115.40. In 1962, H.N. Abrams published History of Art by H.W. and D.J. Janson, which soon became, and remained for more than twenty years, the art history survey in the United States. In 1986, several years after H.W. Janson's death, the third edition of the survey appeared with his name on the title page as well as that of his art historian son, Anthony, as reviser and editor; Anthony would be associated with the survey through the sixth revised edition of 2004. Several years later, the so-called seventh edition appeared, which is titled and is being marketed as Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition, though no Janson name appears on the title page. Rather, six new art historians are listed as authors. According to Dr Jeffrey Weidman, the publication of this so-called seventh edition is an event to be ...