The Essential Gombrich

The Essential Gombrich

About the Author Sir Ernst Gombrich (1909-2001) was one of the greatest and least conventional art historians of his age, achieving fame and distinction in three separate spheres: as a scholar, as a popularizer of art and as a pioneer of the application of the psychology of perception to the study of art. His best-known book, The Story of Art, first published 50 years ago and now in its 16th edition, is one of the most influential books aver written about art.Richard Woodfield is Professor of Aesthetics and Art Theory at Nottingham Trent University, and the editor of Reflections on the History of Art, a collection of E H Gombrich's book reviews. This volume presents an accessible selection of Professor Gombrich's best and most characteristic writing, and introduces the general reader to his ideas and arguments on many fundamental questions. In these meticulously assimilated writings he discusses the nature of representation, the psychology of perception, the interpretation of images, the problems of theory and method, the idea of progress, and symbolism and meaning in art. Professor Gombrich's writings include three major narrative works - The Story of Art, Art and Illusion and The Sense of Order - plus 11 volumes of collected essays and reviews. This anthology brings together a selection from all these books and in addition six pieces not previously published by Phaidon. It thus introduces the reader to the entire range of Gombrich's thought. Richard Woodfield writes a general introduction, and provides extensive notes and guides to further reading. From Library Journal Gombrich, the author of three of the most influential works of art history written this century?The Story of Art (1950), Art and Illusion (1960), and The Sense of Order (1979)?is one of a handful of art scholars whose works range across the entire history of art and have had an impact on a number of disciplines. Though the above works are well represented in this collection, editor Woodfield has drawn from the whole of Gombrich's career to include autobiographical sketches, a tribute to the poet and literary scholar I.A. Richards, meditations on Goethe and Schubert, and a delightful essay on the humorous drawings of Saul Steinberg. Gombrich's forays into social history make this work useful for multidisciplinary collections. A comprehensive bibliography of Gombrich's works is included. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries that do not already own his three major works.?Martin R. Kalfatovic, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Arlington, Va.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review "To read these essays is to feel in close touch with a rare and crucial thing, a large mind at full tilt, curious, ambitious and civilized."-The New York Times From the Back Cover Famous internationally as the author of The Story of Art, E.H. Gombrich is also widely known for his contributions to the ideas and debates of our age. This volume presents an accessible selection of his best and most characteristic writing, and introduces the general reader to his thoughts and arguments on many fundamental questions, including the nature of representation, the psychology of perception, the interpretation of images, problems of theory and method, the idea of progress, and symbolism and meaning in art.