Almost anyone who is asked to give an example of a work of art will answer with a painting, and in the Western World it would generally be a post Renaissance European painting. There may be no logical defence of such an instinctive reaction; but it must to some extent determine the approach to any history of art. Even if it is the duty of the art historian and critic to correct this bias, it must be done tactfully or otherwise the potential reader will be lost. There are, however, some good historical and psychological reasons first. Though art is a term which includes all fine arts poetry and music as well as architecture, painting, engraving and sculpture it is the visual aspects of art that most directly affect our lives, for they are with us always and are part of our environment.