VikingArt(WorldofArt)

ThedistillationofalifetimesstudyofVikingartbyaleadingauthority,thisnewaccountcoversalltheintricateandbeautifulartstylesoftheso-calledVikingAge.ItrangesintimefromthefirstmajorVikingexpeditionsoverseasaroundad800tothegeneralestablishmentofChristianityinScandinaviasome300yearslater.Anopeningchaptergivesthehistoricalandgeographicalbackground.ThematicchaptersthendescribeanddiscussthesixmainVikingartstyles,showinghowtheyemergedfromandinteractedwithoneanother.Delicatemetalworkiscontrastedwithelaboratewood-carvingsandthefamousGotlandpicture-stones,whilewemoveinscalefromtheOsebergshiptodecoratedweaponsandfinejewelry.ThebooksconclusionlooksattheartinrelationtopaganVikingmythology,theConversionperiodandtheNorsesagasaswellasatitslegacyinlatertimes.WithstrikingillustrationsofallthedifferentaspectsofVikingartanddetailedmaps,thiswillbecomethedefinitiveguideforallthoseinterestedinthisvibrantartformandinNorsehistory.