"The Story of Art", one of the best-known and best-loved books on art ever written, has been a world bestseller for over half a century. Professor Gombrich's clear and engaging text combines with hundreds of full-colour illustrations to trace the history of art in an unfolding narrative, from primitive cave paintings to controversial art works of the present day.
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'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
From the Publisher
Renowned not only as the best concise introduction to art history, but also as a classic of art historical literature, this text reflects the vast knowledge, insights, and expertise of one of this century's greatest art historians and thinkers. Extensively illustrated, it treats the history of art -- both chronologically and geographically -- as a continuous unfolding story.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Sir Ernst Hans Josef Gombrich, OM, CBE (30 March 1909 - 3 November 2001) was an Austrian-born art historian who spent most of his working life in the United Kingdom. He is the author of many works of art criticism and art history. (Photograph: Pino Guidolotti)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
69 of 71 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Gombrich's book has a very specific purpose: he wants to tell the history of art as a continuous story, focusing on Western art and its gradual approach to the visual world. In strong contrast to most other art history texts, Gombrich's book has a thesis, and therefore an argument. In choosing among the various alternates (Janson, Gardner, Stokstad, etc.) it is important to bear this in mind. The size and compression of his book is not its salient feature from a
philosophic standpoint: it is the presence of an authorial voice, and a continuous narrative. Most other survey texts give up the ideal of coherent exposition in favor of a neutral descriptive voice and a fragmented "story" that
continuously interrupts itself in order not to lose any essential historical detail.
philosophic standpoint: it is the presence of an authorial voice, and a continuous narrative. Most other survey texts give up the ideal of coherent exposition in favor of a neutral descriptive voice and a fragmented "story" that
continuously interrupts itself in order not to lose any essential historical detail.
59 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having already been exposed to art history and criticism, I felt at times that this book was overly simplistic. (It was originally written for "young people" after all...) What was harder for me to appreciate were the frequent passages in which Gombrich gives vent to his own personal opinions (gushing on about Rubens for instance.) He makes a token effort to be objective but his Eurocentric bias toward the superiority of Classically-inspired Renaissance art is clear.
However, as an introduction to Art History and Art Appreciation, you could do a lot worse. Gombrich is easy to read, he states himself clearly, he presents the history of art (in Europe) as a steady evolution of ideas, rather than a compartmentalized series of Eras & Styles as so many academic textbooks do. He selected illustrations that most effectively elucidate his point. Useful as his book is, it would be a mistake to treat him as a final authority on the subject. _The Story of Art_ is merely an INTRODUCTION to art. Once Dr. Gombrich has opened the door for you, you should leave him behind and continue your explorations on your own, or at least with a different guide. Form your own opinions; that's part of the experience of art.
About the Pocket Edition specifically: The text is in the front (printed on very thin "Bible" paper) and the illustrations are in the back. Phaidon has provided two built-in ribbon bookmarks so you can keep your place in both sections. It's an interesting solution for making the book smaller. I can vouch for the fact that it's easy to carry around, since I took it with me on two trips while reading it, but the arrangement does have its drawbacks. Having to flip back & forth to look at the pictures as they are referred to in the text, and having to hold two places simultaneously while reading means that you have to use both hands. I like to read while I eat (yeah, I'm one of THOSE people) but found it was impossible with this edition. If portability and price are your top concerns, then this is the edition to get. Otherwise, shell out the extra $$ for the full-sized version.
However, as an introduction to Art History and Art Appreciation, you could do a lot worse. Gombrich is easy to read, he states himself clearly, he presents the history of art (in Europe) as a steady evolution of ideas, rather than a compartmentalized series of Eras & Styles as so many academic textbooks do. He selected illustrations that most effectively elucidate his point. Useful as his book is, it would be a mistake to treat him as a final authority on the subject. _The Story of Art_ is merely an INTRODUCTION to art. Once Dr. Gombrich has opened the door for you, you should leave him behind and continue your explorations on your own, or at least with a different guide. Form your own opinions; that's part of the experience of art.
About the Pocket Edition specifically: The text is in the front (printed on very thin "Bible" paper) and the illustrations are in the back. Phaidon has provided two built-in ribbon bookmarks so you can keep your place in both sections. It's an interesting solution for making the book smaller. I can vouch for the fact that it's easy to carry around, since I took it with me on two trips while reading it, but the arrangement does have its drawbacks. Having to flip back & forth to look at the pictures as they are referred to in the text, and having to hold two places simultaneously while reading means that you have to use both hands. I like to read while I eat (yeah, I'm one of THOSE people) but found it was impossible with this edition. If portability and price are your top concerns, then this is the edition to get. Otherwise, shell out the extra $$ for the full-sized version.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Ida Kotyuk
Format:Paperback
Originally, Dr. Gombrich intended (in the 1940s) for this book to be read by high school students; or as he writes "young people." Since then, The Story of Art became popular and his book mushroomed into several languages and editions. Because his language is non-fussy and non-scholarly, I have recommended this book to many non-artist friends; none of whom could get beyond the first few pages. So the reader may need some art background. But if you want to know why the Egyptians chose to draw as they did, or why Gothic art and architecture looks as it does (or "what's THAT all about?"), then this is the book for you. I have reread the book three times and may reread it one or two times more before I go to that great studio in the sky.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best of its kind
It creates a unique non-eurocentric methodology for an overview of world art history.
Gombrich's approach is commendable for its freshness and thematic classifications.
Gombrich's approach is commendable for its freshness and thematic classifications.
Published 19 days ago by Tarek Naga
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice pocket edition of a classic
This is a classic art history book, written in very clear, no-nonsense language, it's a really good starter for someone who has been scared away from museums by some art critics'... Read more
Published 3 months ago by H. P. Chiosso
1.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to recommend
Unless you MUST have a small, light edition of "The Story of Art," you will fare much better with the regular 16th edition.
Why? Read more
Why? Read more
Published 7 months ago by Geoff Puterbaugh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Review of Western Art in One Volume
Perhaps there is a better one-volume overview of the history of art in the West, but I have not seen it yet. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyable by both adults and children
Appreciate the "personal introduction" type of writing style. Enjoyed it myself, also as a great bed-time story telling choice for young kids.
Published 9 months ago by Yun Ge
5.0 out of 5 stars
USED but amazing
This book was a happy surprise, I bought it used, and It looks like a book well kept by my mother. Its edition is from 1978, but it is in great shape, and having it feels like... Read more
Published 10 months ago by MANDREARTIST
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great, readable art history.
I've read a few "art 101" style histories, and this stands out as by far the best. The problem with most comprehensive histories is that each chapter is usually written by a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by MonsoonKing
5.0 out of 5 stars
very informative and easy to read!
good value and great writer!!! The layout is clear and the colour plates give the visual complement that is needed with such a broad topic.
Published 14 months ago by curtis sonny
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, good condition.
Great read and I have no complaints about the seller. The book is a little bare, but its enough to get you very interested. It focuses a lot on the Italian Renaissance.
Published 20 months ago by A. Ullman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fragile ,Sensitive and Pure
The time I received this pocket edition,it was cover with a very thin paper,I felt this book was mailed by a very considered book store. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Susanna Huang
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