What Makes Great Art?

For as long as people have made images, they have argued about which ones matter most. Why are some works of art celebrated as timeless masterpieces, while others fade from view? Who decides what counts as “great,” and on what grounds—beauty, skill, emotion, originality, cultural power, or something else entirely?

In What Makes Great Art?, art historian Janetta Rebold Benton guides readers through this enduring debate. Throughout the book, one hundred carefully paired illustrations invite readers to compare works side by side. Drawing on examples from Western art while acknowledging parallel ideas in other cultures, Benton examines how artists, critics, collectors, museums, markets, and viewers themselves shape the idea of artistic greatness. Moving from classical philosophy and Renaissance ideals to modern neuroscience and contemporary practice, Benton explores whether greatness transcends time and place, whether technical mastery alone is enough, and how emotion, intellect, and personal response factor into our judgments. Rather than offering a single definition of greatness, Benton assists readers in developing their own criteria for artistic excellence.

Published in an attractive, giftable format, with full-color illustrations throughout, What Makes Great Art? is for anyone who has ever stood in front of a work of art and wondered why it deserves a spot in a major museum such as the Louvre in Paris, British Museum in London, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.