The Story of Art, one of the most famous and popular books on art ever written, has been a world bestseller for over four decades. Attracted by the...
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Dec 20, 2008
Vicky
rated it: 
A poorly written piece of tripe that turned me off of art history for life.
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Jul 30, 2011
Rick
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The Story of Art is a handy little survey of art history, primarily but not exclusively western art, from cave paintings and primitive sculptures to modern architecture and pop art. It is 500 pages of text and that many pages of well synchronized color plates in a smart pocket edition by Phaidon. Twenty-eight chapters, mostly quite brief, but each a skillful, thoughtful rippling of the surface, with hints of depth and well-defined currents moving quickly and sure footedly through the eras and ad
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Dec 23, 2010
Charlie
rated it: 
If you don't know anything about art and wish you did, The Story of Art will help. It will ONLY help you to understand art according to a modernist, Western European narrative. If you want to critique art, this is a pretty important narrative to understand, due to its dominance in the field of art theory (I mean, as far as I know). Gombrich covers painting, sculpture, and architecture from pre-history to the mid-twentieth century. He explains what makes particular artists so important by placing
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Jun 09, 2010
AC
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This book was perfect. For someone like myself who (now) has a little knowledge of Art (the capital letter here is deliberate) and some sense of history -- but who has big gaps and oceans of ignorance about the topic -- this book was perfect. It is mature, serious, to the point, absolutely free of jargon, sure, insightful -- always interesting, never pedantic -- and not eccentric in the least. Gombrich covers all the major artists and the movements they represent, and ties them together with
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Aug 20, 2009
Ryan
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This well-composed book was a pleasure to read. And as far as introducing the history of art, it is exactly what I was looking for; beautiful photographs, lucid descriptions, no jargon, no pretension. I recommend that you read the short preface and first chapter, and I bet that you won’t stop there.
The book’s 600 pages contain at least as many photographs, mostly of paintings, and about half of those figures are full-page (including a few fold-outs [ooh la la:]). The text is written More...
The book’s 600 pages contain at least as many photographs, mostly of paintings, and about half of those figures are full-page (including a few fold-outs [ooh la la:]). The text is written More...
Dec 17, 2009
Namrirru
rated it:
The title of this book should be "The Story of Western Art," because that is what 95% of this book is. Western Art. The "Primitive Art," "Looking Eastwards" and "Modernism" section are an insult and should have been left out of the text along with his random snide comments.
Othewise, this makes a nice commentary on Western Art. It's enthusiastic and reads like a "story."
Othewise, this makes a nice commentary on Western Art. It's enthusiastic and reads like a "story."
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Aug 26, 2011
Marta
rated it:
No es sólo un conjunto de ensayos, o un libro de estudio, o una obra de referencia precisa. También es el libro sobre la historia del arte más vendido de la historia. Por una sencilla razón: más que la historia académica ("history"), Gombrich la llama relato ("story"), pues adentra al lector en una apasionante sucesión del genio artístico a lo largo de los tiempos, con sus bajadas y subidas, idas y venidas, sequías y excelentes frutos. Una exquisita obra para coleccionar, rev
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Nov 11, 2009
David
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This is a thick and tremendously heavy book, but only physically heavy, and Gombrich is far from thick in his treatment of art down the ages. Read it lying face-down on the floor. Use it as a door-stop.
The reproductions are exquisite in colour and detail, and of course it can be dipped into at leisure and as the mood takes. The Italian Renaissance is comprehensively covered.
I wanted to buy this book several years ago but thought £25 was a bit steep, then found it last yea More...
The reproductions are exquisite in colour and detail, and of course it can be dipped into at leisure and as the mood takes. The Italian Renaissance is comprehensively covered.
I wanted to buy this book several years ago but thought £25 was a bit steep, then found it last yea More...
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Jul 27, 2011
The classic introduction to art history. It is certainly conventional, as it couldn't fail to be, and it didn't teach me much i didn't already know, but that's because so much art history has been written in the wake of this book. It's a clear, enjoyable, history of western art and it is well worth reading. It is also very well designed in that there is an reproduction of each image Gombrich discusses on the page in which he writes about it, meaning that you don't have to flip back and forth to
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Oct 08, 2010
InMyHumbleOpinion:D
rated it:
before the reveiw, a little pretext, i love art history, NPR and David Sedaris, so the fact the i read this book basically cover to cover isn't too surprising. it was clear and consise and had so many pictures (faomous and obsecure) i must have read the chapter on impressionism and post impressionism 40 times and the section and mannerism at least half that. but if your not interested, this won't read like fiction, or any kind of even remotely intersting text. to some its like reading the dicton
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Jan 29, 2012
Mina
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This is not a breezy book. Art, as I had always encountered it, was always rather stuffy and rather incomprehensible, and that was kind of okay? Like, I didn't mind not getting it because Art and I Were Just Not That Close. The funny thing is that this book seriously puts you *there* with art, it tells you all the context you need to know to not feel like art is something people bullshit you about with long-winded commentaries or that you look at a museum and say 'Yeeeep yep yep yep. A.. picture
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Sep 04, 2011
Beth
rated it:
The Storey of Art
E. M. Gombrich
I was attracted to this beautiful little book in Waterstones; its wafer thin, smooth bible pages, section of over 400 rich colour plates and stylish, minimal cover design. I was also feeling a pang of guilt for not shopping in bookshops anymore because Amazon is so easy and cheap. Walking through a bookstore, perusing books and judging them by there covers, is a real pleasure and one we will be denied access to as everybody shops online, I am More...
E. M. Gombrich
I was attracted to this beautiful little book in Waterstones; its wafer thin, smooth bible pages, section of over 400 rich colour plates and stylish, minimal cover design. I was also feeling a pang of guilt for not shopping in bookshops anymore because Amazon is so easy and cheap. Walking through a bookstore, perusing books and judging them by there covers, is a real pleasure and one we will be denied access to as everybody shops online, I am More...
Nov 28, 2011
John
rated it:
Just a dozen or so pages into this book, I knew that it was one I wish I would have had access to when I was first seriously exposed to art. While in many respects, it is a conservative textbook (being first published in 1950), it is fundamentally meant for someone who has little to no previous formal contact with art history. Of course, if you have some, this can make you seriously engage some of your previously held assumptions about what you like and why you like it, but I got the distinct
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Jan 24, 2011
David
rated it:
I thumbed through a much older (perhaps first) edition of this book when I was away from home and looking for something to read. I was immediately hooked by Gombrich's enthusiastic writing. When I returned home, I was extremely pleased to find that the latest edition was lavishly illustrated and updated to reflect more recent times.
In my opinion, the book is fabulously readable for two reasons: Every piece of art mentioned is shown in the book beside the text and the author avoi More...
In my opinion, the book is fabulously readable for two reasons: Every piece of art mentioned is shown in the book beside the text and the author avoi More...
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Jan 04, 2009
Gina
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Gombrich tells the story of art like a, well, storyteller. It's conversational tone keeps the reader engaged throughout the whole book. It's a perfect primer for someone about to take an art tour through Europe. No doubt this book is heavily biased toward Western Art so be warned that this is hardly the complete story of Art, if such a thing could ever be written. Major props as always to Phaidon for producing the most beautiful artbooks -- always the highest quality photo reproductions of a
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Nov 28, 2008
thom
rated it:
I agree with a lot of the other reviewers, that this should strictly be called the story of Western art, since there is little in there that's either from outside Europe or the US, and when there is, it's normally to illustrate the past of something that was American or European.
Still, up to and including the beginning of the 20th Century, it's a fascinating read, and contains a wonderful history that charts most of the major movements and gives a great overview of how different sect More...
Still, up to and including the beginning of the 20th Century, it's a fascinating read, and contains a wonderful history that charts most of the major movements and gives a great overview of how different sect More...
Mar 06, 2008
Micah
rated it:
I’m an art history fan. Didn’t study it in school, aside form a few personal interest courses... a personal regret. Grombrich’s book was a gift from a friend. I loved it the first time I read it, and I’m loving it as I read it again. It’s a great survey of art, from the primitive to the modern. It tracks the history of art chronologically and by regional influence.
The book appeals to my personal interest in understanding the history of art. Specifically, I’m interested in inte More...
The book appeals to my personal interest in understanding the history of art. Specifically, I’m interested in inte More...
Feb 10, 2012
Rayray
rated it:
This is the best comprehensive art historical book that I have ever come across.
It's actually a book that you can read more for pleasure than for study, and I recommend it to anyone who is even remotely interested in painting, architecture or any artistic elements.
The photos are sharp.
I love how the author writes as if he were explaining it to the reader for the first time, but it does not feel elementary in any way.
I have learned much with very little effort - the best
It's actually a book that you can read more for pleasure than for study, and I recommend it to anyone who is even remotely interested in painting, architecture or any artistic elements.
The photos are sharp.
I love how the author writes as if he were explaining it to the reader for the first time, but it does not feel elementary in any way.
I have learned much with very little effort - the best
Jan 27, 2011
Rec. by Ann Voskamp, uses with her kids. Also recommended on another blog " Told in an effortless and personal tone, Gombrich creates a sense of accessibility and ease often lacking in books on art, as if he was conversing with a friend, not educating the masses. It is rare that a book charged with such an undertaking as telling the story of art could be so easy to read and understand, and yet it is. This truly is a book that, as artist Bridget Riley put it, is "written with love and
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Mar 18, 2009
Uaba
rated it:
This is the most complete book about The History of Art. It talks about all kinds of artistic expressions and it's organized by period of time. It contains a lot of pictures of famous paintings, sculptures, buildings, of anything related to art. It was the first book I bought when I entered architecture graduation college. It helped me a lot.
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May 07, 2008
Ellee
rated it:
The Story of Art by Ernst Hans Gombrich is a readable overview of the history of world art. As is the case with many introductory art history texts, this book also mostly focuses on art developments in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and United States. As an introductory text, however - especially for a layperson interested in the topic, this is a very self-explanatory book. Someone with more background in art history probably will be familiar with most of the concepts, but may enjoy it for i
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Apr 11, 2011
rec. by Chris Chan. He said he read it straight through.
Wikipedia is good to read on Gombrich's background.
Another book of his, A little history of the world, I am curious about. Written in 1935 for children, it was never transl. into ENG until 2005! In spite of remaining popular in many other langauges.
Wikipedia is good to read on Gombrich's background.
Another book of his, A little history of the world, I am curious about. Written in 1935 for children, it was never transl. into ENG until 2005! In spite of remaining popular in many other langauges.
Feb 24, 2011
Katie
rated it:
One of the most amazing books I own. You can pick it up and dip into it and soak up some knowledge... Anyone with even a passing interest in western art should invest in a copy. I was studying basic undergrad western art and this was a fantastic companion book... though amazingly the lecturers never mentioned it!
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Feb 11, 2011
Natalie
rated it: 
This might be a good introduction to the history of art yet I have to say that the author's oldfangled style did not appeal to me and I did not finish the book. I prefer the more neutral approach of Gardner's Art Through the Ages or similar books.
Oct 14, 2011
Katalina
rated it:
The bedtime story for art historians. This isn't a book you read from cover to cover -- it's after all an ambitious survey or art and therefore an ambitious read. But if you ever feel the craving to get an overview of a period of art and where it fits within the larger story of art this is your book.
Sep 16, 2011
Caitlin
rated it:
This is a great introductory book to the world of art. Gombrich writes like a friendly lecturer. The book starts in the B.C. era and follows the development of art through to the contemorary period. The biggest problem I had with the book was the title. It really should be called either "The Story of European Art" or "The Story of Western Art." It barely touches on the art of the rest of the world, it doesn't even have that much American art. To be fair, there is too much art
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Dec 13, 2011
Cui
rated it:
I had one book but not same version as that book and sometime made me headache while I'm reading that book because too thin paper/pages. Soon or later i will gave away to help student studying theories and assignments. Also, i need reduce books and make a less crowd bedroom.
Jul 31, 2011
Achilee
rated it:
Excellent introduction to the history of Art. Personalized, engaging...
After reading it in English, I decided to also read the French edition. Honestly the English original is much better than the French translation, still enjoyable and with a slight French twist...
After reading it in English, I decided to also read the French edition. Honestly the English original is much better than the French translation, still enjoyable and with a slight French twist...
Dec 05, 2010
I started reading this many years ago, but put it down. It's a big, long book, and I would love to be able to read it from cover to cover at some point, but it will definitely take a long time. I still have a copy at home, so maybe I'll give it another try sometime soon.
Sep 08, 2010
Mohsen
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تاریخ هنر ارنست گامبریج یکی از بهترین کتابهایی است که در زمینه تاریخ هنر به طبع رسیده که آقای علی رامین نیز با ترجمه بسیار خوب خود بر غنای کتاب افزوده است.
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