Art History and Its Methods

Approcahes to the history of art are probably more varied and more debated than in any other branch of history, and a study of different historical approaches has become an important component of student courses. This critical anthology brings together the work of 27 influential art historians and writers from the Renaissance to the present day. Key texts have been chosen in which the authors engage in the debate themselves, as they reflect on the nature of their subject and on their own methods of enquiry. Included are texts by Varasi, Winckelmann, Burckhardt, Wolfflin, Panofsky, Sontag, Gombrich, Pollock and Oguibe, among others. The introduction gives an overview of art-historical methods, and each of the texts is accompanied by a commentary that places it in context and discusses the issues it raises. Also provided is a critical glossary defininf and commenting on the main concepts relevant to the art historian, and a select bibliography. Students and teachers of art history will find this an invaluable resource.