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Review
'This is a book which, widely read as it will certainly be, may well affect the thought of a generation. Gombrich writes conversationally and intimately. His learning, though very perceptible to any student of the subject, is worn lightly, but he has something new to say on almost every subject. He can illuminate with a few words the whole atmosphere of a period.' T J Boase, Times Literary Supplement, reviewing the 1st edition, 27 January 1950 'The country's bestselling book on art, never out of print, still in demand (and not just by students) and one of the few "gift books" that actually gets read. The work is not so simplistic as the title implies, but it is this very title that rendered the book enormously attractive in 1950 to a new sort of book buyer: the self-educator. This field was set to grow, publishers eagerly wooing punters into buying the one big book on every impossibly massive but key subject. But with Gombrich, art was all sewn up.' The Times
--This text refers to an alternate
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Product Description
This text is the 16th revised and updated edition of this introduction to art, from the earliest cave paintings to experimental art. Eight new artists from the modern period have been introduced. They are: Corot, Kollwitz, Nolde, de Chirico, Brancussi, Magritte, Nicolson and Morandi. A sequence of new "endings" have been added, and the captions are now fuller, including the medium and dimension of the works illustrated. Six fold-outs present selected large-scale works. They are: Van Eyck's "Ghent Altarpiece", Leonardo's "Last Supper", Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", Jackson Pollock's "One (Number 31, 1950)", Van der Weyden's "Descent from the Cross" and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
76 of 78 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'll have to echo some of the opinions of the previous reviewers. This is an excellent introduction to the history of art. While other books usually begin with Giotto, Ernst Gombrich ensures that everything from prehistoric cave paintings to the International Gothic style of the fourteenth century is included in this surprisingly easy to read book.
However, for anyone wishing to obtain a total grounding in art history, this book should be supplemented with other works, particularly on twentieth century art (especially post-1945) and photography.
However, for anyone wishing to obtain a total grounding in art history, this book should be supplemented with other works, particularly on twentieth century art (especially post-1945) and photography.
75 of 77 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In high school I acquired just a very superficial knowledge of the history of Art and, though I studied Engineering at the university, I have always felt a deep need to know something more on Art. Professor Gombrich's book is THE book that has helped me in learning what the "purpose" of Art is, how to judge a picture, a statue or a building. This book has given me new fresh pleasure in the knowledge of the Old Masters but has also taught me how to appreciate "Modern Art", which had always seemed to me hard to understand. "The Story of Art" is a marvellous account of the whole history of humankind, seen through the glasses of Art. I think that all Art lovers should read this book: it will give them both physical and intellectual pleasure.
119 of 123 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My personal opinion is that this is a very well presented, consisely written book, providing a superb grounding in the subject.
I can honestly say that I didn't know the first thing about art, or it's origins, when I started reading this, but the explanations are so clear and the points got across so well, that I really do feel that I now have some kind of grasp on the subject.
Yes, it looks like a text book, and I suppose that in some respects you could indeed class it as such. However, it's written in such an easy going style, and in laymans terms too, that it's almost like having one-to-one tuition with the author. Luckily, great pains have been taken to ensure that the book doesn't degenerate into complete waffle - it manages to be consise and only as much is said in order to get a point across.
Still, I feel that there is enough detail in the book that it would, perhaps, provide a useful reference to those who already have an understanding of the field. (Though obviously don't hold me to that, as I'm just a 'beginner'!)
The book has plenty of illustrations, but not too many so as to make it of an unmanageable size. A few larger sized pull-out illustrations are also included, which is a nice touch - the reader is spared having to dig around for a magnifying glass to appreciate the picture!
I feel that I can look around, at arcitecture, sculpture, or paintings, and appreciate them much more than I could before - I can take time to think about where and when in history something was created and know what the artist was trying to produce.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An absolutely beautiful book!
When studying my A level History of Art I found this book priceless...the writing style is beautiful with the most fantastic pull out pages of the larger works of art. Read more
Published 5 months ago by LittleCliffe
A great place to start when studying Art History
This book is great for my Art History course. It has sections of almost every part of art and gives you the basic knowledge for you to jump into even deeper research. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Charlotte Anne
A very good introduction to art history.
A very good introduction to Art History. Artists and their works are presented in a very clear and simple way. It gives you solid basis for further studies.
Published 9 months ago by Francesca Bianco
Highly informative
Highly inforamtive and must say beautifuly written as it is always when the author is of a big heart. Ernst Gombrich did it amazingly inside out once again. Highly recommened!
Published 9 months ago by Eva
Useful, but with a dated perspective.
My copy of this, inherited from my father, is the 13th edition, revised in 1972. E.H.Gombrich died not that long ago, so may have revised it again since; the man himself, however,... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Peasant
good product but too late in recieving date
good product but too late in recieving date. im not sure if it's a problem of the sender or the local post here in italy.
Published 13 months ago by Pichamon Pengpit
A Master teacher
This book has been said to be the best book on the history of art that has been written. First published in the l950s it has gone through 16 editions, each one adding new material,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ivor R. B. Hibbitt
A breeze of a read despite the size
Although this is a fairly weighty book, the author's clarity expression and explanation together with the cleverly laid out pictures has meant that reading it is a breeze, as I... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Delmona
A masterpiece
This book is broad in its scope and deep in its content. Anyone looking for an introduction to Art History must start by reading this. Oh, and there are lots of pictures! Read more
Published 15 months ago by R Howey
Another lifetime
Gombrich begins, with integrity and frankness, by telling us that there is really no such thing as art. Read more
Published 16 months ago by John Ferngrove
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