Essential History of Art by Antonia Cunningham, Laura Payne, Lucinda Hawksley, Art of history" refers to the study of art throughout history, essentially meaning the field of art history; it examines how art reflects the cultural, social, and political contexts of different time periods and civilizations across the globe, analyzing artworks as a source to understand the past. Format: Hardcover Language: English ISBN: 1-84084-952-5 Release Date: January 2000 Publisher: Parragon Publishing Weight: 2.9 lbs.