The book opens with an introduction to the geographical and historical background to Viking culture; thematic chapters then describe and illustrate the six main Viking art styles, showing how they emerged from and interacted with one another. Delicate metalwork, elaborate wood-carvings and the famous Gotland picture-stones are all discussed. Viking art ranges in scale from the Oseberg ship to decorated weapons and finely crafted jewelry; all feature here, alongside architecture and archaeological traces left by Vikings across continental Europe and beyond. The final chapter examines Viking art in relation to pagan mythology, the conversion to Christianity, and the Viking legacy for later artistic movements.

Thoroughly revised and updated throughout, Viking Art is a modern classic that serves as a definitive guide for all those interested in the vibrant artistic culture of this fascinating period in European history.