The companion provides an accessible critical survey of western visual art theory from sources in classical medieval and renaissance thought through to contemporary writings author bios paul smith is chair of the history of art department at the university of warwick. Following an extensive introduction on the formation of modern art theory the companion is organized chronologically so that readers can trace developments of visual art theory from classical and medieval sources and modern conceptions of art as they have been theorized since the renaissance through to some current theoretical preoccupations. This survey of art theory in the context of western visual art consists of 41 original essays written by experts in the field following an extensive introduction on the formation of modern art theory the companion is organized chronologically so that readers can trace developments of visual art theory from classical and medieval sources and modern conceptions of art as they have been . A companion to art theory blackwell companions in cultural studies advisory editor david theo goldberg university of california irvine this series aims to provide theoretically ambitious but accessible volumes devoted to the major fields and subfields within cultural studies whether as single