The Very Best Art Books [Update 2024] [Top 10]

What are the best books on art? We have listed the best recommendations for art lovers. Read on for our top art books list…

The best books ever written about art

We start our recommendations with the top 10 best books about Art of all time. This list has been updated this year, including all the recent titles.

Best Art Books	Author
Rembrandt. the Complete Paintings	Marieke de Winkel, Rudie van Leeuwen, and Volker Manuth
The Story of Art	Ernst Gombrich
Oil painting techniques and materials	Harold Speed
Art That Changed the World	DK
Open Studio: Do-It-Yourself Art Projects by Contemporary Artists	Amanda Benchley and Sharon Coplan Hurowitz
Vincent Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings	Ingo Walther, Rainer Metzger, and Vincent van Gogh
Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists	Mike Venezia
A Child’s Introduction to Art: The World’s Greatest Paintings and Sculptures (A Child’s Introduction Series)	Heather Alexander
Abstract Art: A Global History	Pepe Karmel
You Are an Artist: Assignments to Spark Creation	Sarah Urist Green

The updated top 10 list: the best books about art

Art That Changed the World: Transformative Art Movements and the Paintings That Inspired Them

Art has the power to take your breath away, and in this book written by Caroline Bugler and Lorrie Mack you will find the best and most diverse works of art that exist all over the world.

The Painter’s Secret Geometry: A Study of Composition in Art (Dover Books on Fine Art)

When you look at a painting you don’t always realize the study that went into the composition. ‘The Painter’s Secret Geometry’ helps you understand what elements play a key role when painting. 

The Louvre: All the Paintings (BLACK DOG & LEV)

If you have ever been to the Louvre, you know the art can be overwhelming. To not miss all the important details, check out this book on the paintings in the Louvre. There are more than 3,200.

Rodin on Art and Artists (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)

Rodin was an amazing sculptor, and his protégé has helped keep Rodin’s philosophy safe from being lost forever, by writing down the sculptor’s thoughts on the subject. Discover what went on in the mind of this genius.

How to Create Mandalas (Dover Books on Art Instruction and Anatomy)

Making a mandala can have a relaxing effect on both body and mind. This book gives you easy-to-execute exercises to come up with your own designs. When your mandala is ready, all you have to do now is decide what colors to use when coloring it.

Medieval and Renaissance Treatises on the Arts of Painting: Original Texts with English Translations (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)

This book by Mary Merrifield was originally published in 1849, and in our opinion it is still one of the best works on medieval and Renaissance oil paintings. She really emphasizes the technology that went into these impressive works of art.

Concerning the Spiritual in Art (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)

Kandinsky is famous for his art, but did you know he wrote a book? In ‘Concerning the Spiritual in Art’ he doesn’t just reflect on his own work, but he also takes a close look at the art of other modern artists.

The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia

We love this encyclopedia, because of its extensive information on art styles and art movements. This book pays homage to the world’s most famous painters, photographers and sculptors and their best works of art.

A Big Important Art Book (Now with Women): Profiles of Unstoppable Female Artists–and Projects to Help You Become One

If you would like to know more about female artists, then we think this is the book for you. The focus is entirely on the art work that women have produced, and you also get some exercises to awaken the artist that is inside of you.

Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion

Joseph Campbell has his own opinion about how to live life, and ‘Reflections on the Art of Living’ will tell you all about his point of view. See if you can agree on his take on life.