History of Beauty

An illustrated survey of how people in the West have understood beauty from ancient Greece to the present. Eco, with contributors, traces changing ideals through art, literature and philosophy, from classical harmony and medieval light to Renaissance proportion, Romantic feeling, and modern and mass-media styles.

Rich in paintings, sculpture and quoted texts, the book shows that beauty has never meant just one thing. It is a browsable, thoughtful companion for readers curious about art and ideas.