Gombrich: A Theory of Art: (Refractions)

A holistic and systematic analysis of Ernst Gombrich as theorist Offers the first holistic and systematic analysis of Gombrich's theoretical ideas and interrogation of their sources Examines both the history of art and architecture and its current practice Arranges all of Gombrich's sideas howing the aptitude and validity of its theoretical load Enables a new understanding of the nature of Art History and its presuppositions Captures and retains Gombrich's appeal and humour, and his straightforward style without losing depth This is the first English translation of Gombrich: una teor a del arte, by Joaqu n Lorda, originally published in 1991. Lorda was considered to be one of Gombrich's best students and this book presents an extensive, expansive and holistic analysis of Gombrich's thought. It is structured around a set of key ideas and themes: Science, Joke, Game and Rhetoric. Lorda provides in-depth analysis of Gombrich's engagement with figures such as Huizinga, Freud, Hegel, and Popper. While there has been extensive secondary literature on Gombrich, this is the first book to provide a systematic analysis of his ideas and theoretical frameworks, taking into account the entirety of his writings. This major work of scholarship sheds new light on Gombrich as a thinker and turns Gombrich's ideas into a workable theory of art that can be used as an instrument to examine both the history of art and architecture and its current practice.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures Foreword and Acknowledgements Preliminary Note Preface Introduction Part I: Paradigms and Analogies Science, Joke, Play and Rhetoric 1. Science 2. The Joke 3. Play 4. Rhetoric Part II: Approaches to Progress Topics of Western Art 5. Vasari and the Classical Theory 6. Beauty as the Objective 7. Art and Progress 8. Winckelmann and Hegel 9. Primitivism Part III: Metaphor and Complex Order Ideas for a Theory of Art 10. Art and Metaphor 11. Mastery 12. Style 13. Evolution 14. Creation 15. Expression 16. Understanding 17. Interpretation Postscript: Joaquín Lorda: A Few Afterthoughts, by Partha Mitter Notes Specific Bibliography and Abbreviations General Bibliography Bibliography of the Works of Joaquín Lorda Index

About the Author :
Joaquin Lorda (1955-2016) was Professor of Architecture at the University of Navarra, Spain. He was an avid scholar of the work of E. H. Gombrich, who considered him to be the person who most fully understood and advanced his own ideas. In 1985, he co-authored E. H. Gombrich: Conceptual Framework and Bibliography with Carlos Montes, (published by EUNSA, Pamplona) and in 1991 he wrote Gombrich: a Theory of Art (EIUNSA, Barcelona) as well as several subsequent books and articles. E. H. Gombrich (1909-2001) was an Austrian-born Art Historian Partha Mitter is Emeritus Professor in Art History, University of Sussex María Angélica Martínez is the Editor and Coordinator of the ART T&H Group at the University of Navarra, Spain Tim Nicholson is a translator who works for TISA in the Basque region, Spain. Juan Luis Lorda is Professor at the School of Theology, University of Navarra, Spain. María Antonia Frías is Emeritus Professor at the School of Architecture, University of Navarra, Spain. Ramón Alemany is a PhD student at the University of Navarra, Spain.

Review :
While there has been extensive secondary literature on Gombrich, this is the first book to provide a systematic analysis of his ideas and theoretical frameworks, taking into account the entirety of his writings. This major work of scholarship sheds new light on Gombrich as a thinker and turns Gombrich’s ideas into a workable theory of art that can be used as an instrument to examine both the history of art and architecture and its current practice.