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I have a few recommendations for you:

1. First and foremost, Khan Academy's Art History section. It's absolutely wonderful and comprehensive, with videos on each era (which may be a bit more in depth than you need) and summaries of each era and the important points about them. The narrators do a great job of keeping it engaging. I've dropped quite a few hours on there. And best of all, it's free.
   
   https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history
   
   
   
2. A Very Short Introduction: Art History
   
   These AVSI books are really great when you like a quick overview of a topic. They're usually 100-150 pages in length and generally pretty high quality. I wouldn't be scared away by the reviews on any of them, the books are all written by professionals and most of the reviewers are highbrow snobs. Cheap and short, so you don't have much to lose. I've read about 10 of them and have yet to be disappointed.
   
   Art History: A Very Short Introduction https://www.amazon.com/dp/0192801813/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_eINGxbJQRS88H
   
   
3. Gardner's Art Through the Ages
   
   This one is a textbook, so a bit more in depth. If you have access to a good library, you might be able to find it. But it's very well written and provides summaries of the important art historical eras along with beautiful photos and explanations. The book is a work of art in and of itself.
   
   Best of luck!

Depends on your discipline in medieval art. What are you looking for?

Marilyn Stokstad wrote a decent survey textbook on medieval art here. It's a good starting point. You can also check out James Snyder's survey on "Medieval Art" but I find it a bit "drier" compared to Stokstad, who gets into function and context a bit more than Snyder's formalist approach.

Check out the slim volumes in the Oxford Art Series. These go for a more thematic approach but they are quite good and accessible. They include Veronica Sekules "Medieval Art"; Lawrence Nees "Early Medieval Art" (great and kind scholar); Susie Nash's Northern Renaissance book, Roger Stalley's book on medieval architecture, and so forth.

From the "Perspective" series, check out Andreas Petzold's book on Romaneque art and the late, great Michael Camille's book on Gothic art. For that matter, check out anything by Michael Camille.

Although long and at times tedious, I love Peter Lasko's "Ars Sacra" (focusing primarily on medieval "minor arts"). It's part of the Yale University Press series on various art topics; I think Paul Williamson wrote a text on Gothic art and there's an old Romanesque title by George Zarnecki.

There are many survey texts on medieval manuscripts: look for books by JJG Alexander, Christopher de Hamel, and Raymond Clemons/Timothy Graham.

I am not going to address survey textbooks on early Christian and Byzantine art here, but if you want I can certainly send a list.

Start with the ones listed above; if you want more titles, please say so. I can try and dig up my reading list for my M.A. and Ph.D. exams, although they are about a decade old.

(Source: Ph.D. in Medieval and Northern Renaissance Art.)

Dana Arnold's Art History A Very Short Introduction is a great short book to give you an overview; others have pointed you to Khan Academy and the BBC's A History of Art in Three Colours is a great 3 part documentary and personally I adore Waldemar Januszczak's documentaries take your pick from a variety but a really good one is Paradise Found and here's a bunch of available free short courses

Pick up some books. Asian / non-western art is an absolutely immense topic, and it would serve to well to give yourself a solid background, and to narrow your area of interest if you're serious about pursuing art history as a field of study.

I'm far from an expert on Asian art, but the Oxford History of Art series (Craig Clunas's book on Chinese art and Partha Mitter's on Indian Art) as well as the Thames and Hudson World of Art series (Indian Art and Southeast Asian Art) tend to be fairly good jumping on points if you're looking for a broad introduction to a topic.

Native North American Art (Oxford History of Art) by Janet C. Berlo and Ruth B. Philips. This book gives a really good overview of Native American visual arts, and isn't too dry. The different cultures are separated geographically, and the authors give excellent explanations on what could be complex ideas involving religion, spirituality, ethics, etc. Oh, and they even go into 20th Century Indigenous American art, which is an interesting chapter. Plus it's only $20! The cheapest textbook I had while getting my Art History degree!

Well, you've prompted a purchase! I was recommended that book a few years ago but had forgotten it entirely, so many thanks! The closest I have read, I think, is this.

As a tl;dr where does your recommendation place Lautrec? I'd just like to be reasonably confident it addresses the topic before I purchase it ;)

I think Gombrich is a good choice but I have always been Partial to Marilyn Stokstad's writings https://www.amazon.com/Art-History-5th-Marilyn-Stokstad/dp/0205873472/ref=la_B001IGQDGK_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526063176&sr=1-4 and https://www.amazon.com/Art-History-Vol-2-5th/dp/0205877575/ref=la_B001IGQDGK_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526063176&sr=1-5

Marilyn Stokstad and Michael Cothren are probably two of the best living authorities regarding Art History.

My university textbook for Art History 101 is this one. I also found the e-version on the pirate bay, but it's the 4th edition. Anyways, it has lots of information and I mean, obviously it's a textbook, it's a bit dry, but it's probably not too bad if you're reading selected bits and pieces for fun rather than huge chunks of it for class.

A lot of the best literary works can depend greatly on your background. For example, I have many friends who are technicians of one sort or another, so technique was one point to strengthen their connection to art. I might get them to watch Tim's Vermeer and then read David Hockney's Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters. I understand that these assumptions about technique are still theory, but many find it interesting and relatable.

I used this one a few years ago when I taught art appreciation. It has more than the elements and is written for non majors. I was happy with whatever edition was around in 2008 or so, so I'm sure there's a cheap used copy of an old edition floating around somewhere.

oxford university press do a series called 'very short introduction' covering alllll kinds of topics, and the art history one is brilliant, there's also art theory and then others on particular artistic/creative movements - they're really affordable and really easy to read and actually so informative

Try this cheap copy. Newer editions haven't changed too much, especially if you're new to the topic.

Here's a Google Doc of AP Art History for you to use as a guide.

Particularly, if you're interested in contemporary art, this might be a light fun read.

I'd also recommend Hugh Honour and John Fleming, A World History of Art

Your best bet is an art appraiser. Quick, cursory internet searches pull up $350 for single prints from 1964. example 1 example 2 example 3

Snyder's Medieval Art It's a pretty hefty book, but extremely comprehensive on the subject

I have this [book] (http://www.amazon.com/Egon-Schiele-Watercolors-Jane-Kallir/dp/0500511160/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1D32C09NHMSKZVSKYP90) about Egon. The images are fantastic, and the quality of the book is absurd considering its relatively low cost. The majority of the book is high res images but it does have a fairly lengthy biographical section in the front, including some critical responses from the public during his life. I haven't read it in about a yeat so I can't be too specific but I think it's definitely worth the price and I believe you would get some use out of it.

Thames and Hudson has a book on Egon Schiele's watercolors and drawings that's one of the best out there. it chronicles his progress and because he didn't make it out of his twenties but was very prolific, you can visualize his progression in a matter of months.

http://www.amazon.com/Egon-Schiele-Watercolors-Jane-Kallir/dp/0500511160

(i don't buy a lot of overview books but try to go for specific artists one at a time)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lizzie-Siddal-Tragedy-Pre-Raphaelite-Supermodel/dp/0233004025/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450870857&sr=1-5&keywords=pre+raphaelites

Gives lots of background on that particular bunch of artists.

..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0141192402?keywords=Rossetti&qid=1450871251&ref_=sr_1_6&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pre-Raphaelites-Their-World-Rachel-Barnes/dp/1854372203

this is a very good one..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Pre-Raphaelites-Their-World-Personal-Reminiscences-Rossetti/dp/B000W721JY


Have a look here..

http://www.victorianweb.org/painting/index.html

Painters have always used various optical devices, I dont think it detracts from their painting, its just another tool.

Its the Hockney-Falco thesis that you are referring to, he discusses it in depth with proof in this book, its an interesting read, Id give it a whirl if I were you.

Definitely check out: https://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Bedside-Companion-History-Western/dp/014025997X

A World History of Art is a good place to start. Gombrich's The Story of Art is an accessible introduction but a little outdated, to my mind.

Based on everyone else's recommendations (which I agree with) I would purchase this book too.

http://www.amazon.com/Art-History-Critical-Anthology-Oxford/dp/0199229848/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Nochlin and Krauss arent included but EVERY OTHER big name is -- from vasari to shapiro.

Also check on David Hockney's Secret Knowledge, if you find this interesting

Here is the survey text for general works, and if you haven't read Gombrich's "The Story of Art," it is a must-read for a potential grad student!

Always start with Gombrich!

Also The Art of Art History, A Critical Anthology ed. by Donald Preziosi. I know that Adams is a Renaissance scholar, so maybe take that with a grain of salt - editors tend to pull from what speaks to them alongside their presentation an objective viewpoint into art theory.