H. W. Janson books in order
American art historian, museum director
- Lived
- 1913–1982
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 14
H. W. Janson published 9 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 4 other books, beginning with Apes and Ape Lore in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1952).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with H. W. Janson
Start here
Apes and Ape Lore in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
H. W. Janson's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The Picture History of Painting, from Cave Painting to Modern Times (1961)
History of Art (1962)
The Story of Painting, from Cave Painting to Modern Times (1966)
A History of Art and Music (1968)
A Basic History of Art (1971)
Form Follows Function--Or Does It? (1982)
The Story of Painting (1982)
Basic History of Western Art (2009)
Short History of Art (2009)
Children's books in order
History of Art for Young People (1971)
Other books in order
Apes and Ape Lore in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1952)
The Pleasures of Painting (1953)
The Sculpture of Donatello (1957)
The Romantics to Rodin (1980)
About H. W. Janson
Horst Woldemar Janson, was a Russian-born German-American professor of art history best known for his History of Art, which was first published in 1962 and has since sold more than four million copies in fifteen languages. His academic specialization was the sculpture of Donatello.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
H. W. Janson FAQ
- How many books has H. W. Janson written?
- H. W. Janson published 9 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read H. W. Janson's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Apes and Ape Lore in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
- What is H. W. Janson's last book?
- The Story of Painting (1982).
- What is H. W. Janson's most famous book?
- Apes and Ape Lore in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1952) is H. W. Janson's most widely read book.
Authors like H. W. Janson
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.