Customer Reviews

The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology (Oxford History of Art)

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As an art historian, I have found this to be the best anthology of writing about art history, but it is not a picture book or entry-level history of art. The other reviewers were correct in identifying this book as a specialized volume for academics, not an introduction for the general reader. This is not a drawback unless you expect something else. Professor Preziosi is a leading expert in art history's history and is respected widely for his erudition and comprehensive knowledge of the field. I assign it to my graduate students because the selection of important writings is excellent and Preziosi's introductions are so succinct and precise.

I find myself in agreement with Patrick Deegan and the reader from L.A. as to this volume's quality, but less so as to its accessibility. In fact, I believe any intelligent reader should be able to approach this volume and, using Donald Preziosi's succinct commentary as a guide to context, derive valuable knowledge and material for critical thought from it. Readers seeking a simple monolithic approach to the subject of Art History will, needless to say, be disillusioned by the breadth and depth of this volume; readers with an active mind (regardless of whether they describe themselves as academics or not) will be delighted by it. As an example of the careful selection process that has gone into this anthology, I would point out the sequence of texts anthologized in Chapter 8, where the changes over time in critical readings of Heidegger's _The Origin of the Work of Art_ are well reflected in the subsequent essays by Schapiro, Derrida, and Melville. Having any one of these essays present in the volume would be valuable; having the full set allows the reader a far greater degree of insight into the matter of Heidegger's original essay. In short, a book I would strongly recommend to anyone who wants to think independently about art, and not just be told what to think about it.

This is a book for anyone interested in reading excerpts from original texts (by Helgel, Kant, Derrida etc.) about specific problems encountered in the field of Art History since, approximately, the creation of the modern concept of Art. It is divided into chapters about specific themes, with a short introduction, and bibliography. I would recommend Preziosis own book "Rethinking Art History" as a companion. This is not an easy book, as some angry reviewers discovered, but - how could it be? Art is about life, and life is a very complex thing. If you have absolutely no experience with philosophy or theory, then this might not be the right place to start. If, however, Art and Art History is something you are interested in, and have some basic knowledge of, this is a very rewarding book.

Preziosi challenges the prevailing attitude that the study of art historical methodology should be left for graduate/specialized work. Not so - this book opens a space for undergrad inquiry, though it doesn't exactly fill it either. It manages to contextualize themes/concepts (some better than others) into a larger intellectual history, without settling into arid hagiography. But it's more than intellectual history: in its own specific ways, the selections thoughtfully probe the limitations of historiography, and the inherent irony involved in history writing (though the reader is left to make many of these types of conclusions). Preziosi nonetheless provides different levels of accessibility in his introductions, as do the essays themselves, which are pitched at various theoretical levels - some are obviously beyond the undergrad level. The weakest section is that which deals with the Postcolonial: the selected essays, though important, really fail to grasp the complexities of Native North American art and Postcolonial discourse.

This is a collection of essays by various writers who have either been or written about seminal art historians, philosophers, historians, critics, etc. throughout time.

Preziosi has grouped the essays and excerpts according to foundation concepts such as "Style", "Aesthetics", "Iconography and Semiology" which would be used cohesively in the study of art history. Each of these chapters contains a collection of essays. For example, the chapter on aesthetics contains excerpts on aesthetics in philosophy by Kant and Hegel. In picking these aspects apart and exposing their origins within the time frame of art history, Preziosi generates a book that allows an analysis of the way that art history works.

As the book is a collection of texts it would not serve at all as an introduction to Art History without some familiarity with the subject, or some one to help ground the texts in their application to the field. For this reason, it is probably better suited to those willing to put a certain level of academic rigor into their reading, or to students who can benefit from the guidance of a structured course. It is also far from "brilliant" or pioneering, as it really only serves as a re-organization of available materials.

Similarly, it is not an introduction to important art in history. Less that half of these essays are analysis of works of art, and the texts are not arranged chronologically or according to the art they may or may not discuss.

I encountered this book as a textbook in an Art History course which focused on strengthening various methodological approaches. I'm not an art historian however, but studio (fine arts) MFA. I would place this book as approachable and simple by academic standards, but not for the general public unless you have the patience to wade through dry textbooks. Personally, I enjoy it, as the organization has allowed me a survey of topics in art history that has really helped me see how these topics relate to each other, and to keep my footing with people who have been taking courses in this for several years.

This book is a must have for any college art history student. This is a reference book; not a book to be read from cover to cover like a novel. It gives one enough background and resources to pursue a specific aspect of art history. How I learned of this book was through a reccommendation from the Art History Department Chairperson at a SUNY school with a world wide reputation for producing outstanding graduates in the Arts.

The New Oxford History of Art represents the first massive effort to rethink this field in detail since Nikolaus Pevsner launched the Pelican History fifty years ago. The volumes are well printed, advantageously priced, and generally refreshing in their point of view. Preziosi's volume is sui generis in that instead of dealing with a period or theme, it is a second order study--of the study of art history. It combines an anthology with interspersed commentary. Unfortunately, the Preziosi commentary, demonstrating the author's effort to find a new approach, is marred by opaque language and a sketchy presentation of ideas. For example, he says that one of his approaches will be based on the principle of the anamorphic image. Although he reproduces one by Holbein, he does not adequately explain it. Still, for those with an interest in the subject this volume is worth struggling with.

The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology (Oxford History of Art) is a wonderful book for the novice and the advanced Art Historian. It is full of information as well as beautiful prints and information explaining all phases of Art History.The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology (Oxford History of Art)

We used this text in a graduate level theories and methods course last semester. It is dense, but it is also informative. We had the benefit of being able to actually meet with Dr. Preziosi (the author) for one session of class, and that also helped illuminate what he was doing with this book.

As someone who is coming to art history from a studio/practitioner background, I felt that this was a very good book to go beyond the standard "Memorize and Identify" methods of undergraduate art history classes. This was about the work of an art historian. The place we find ourselves in when doing the work of art history.

This is an excellent anthology. The content is great.

Amazon has a Kindle edition linked that is the 1998 version of this anthology with different texts. Please note that the Kindle edition also does not have page numbering which will be necessary if you are using for a class, citing in a paper, etc.

Make sure to check the edition you purchase.