L'arte nella storia: 600 a.C. - 2000 d.C.

Ideas in Profile

by Martin Kemp

L'arte non è sospesa nel vuoto. Come scriveva T.S. Eliot, "quel che accade quando viene creata una nuova opera d'arte accade simultaneamente anche a tutte le opere che l'hanno preceduta". Ogni tassello che si aggiunge all'immenso patrimonio artistico dell'umanità ridefinisce la storia stessa e mette in prospettiva diversa ciò che era già stato creato. Arte e storia, uomini e capolavori, sono un tutt'uno nel fluire del tempo. Tenendo tutto ciò sempre ben presente, Martin Kemp ha scritto questo impeccabile compendio di storia dell'arte, un'introduzione da cui partire per intuire la complessità della nostra immensa tradizione pittorica e scultorea. Dalla Grecia di Fidia agli affreschi pompeiani, dai mosaici bizantini all'incredibile Medioevo italiano, alla ritrattistica olandese, al Rinascimento e al Barocco; da Vermeer a Canaletto, da Goya a Turner, dalla scuola ottocentesca francese fino alla rottura novecentesca degli schemi, per giungere alle ultimissime installazioni artistiche a cavallo del millennio. Questo breve libro è un 'tour de force' artistico ben congegnato: un libro necessario per immergerci nella bellezza del nostro mondo.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, Art History

229 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Martin Kemp is professor of the History of Art at Oxford University, and the author of many books including The Science of Art, Visualizations and the recent Leonardo. He is also a frequent contributor to Nature, the international science journal, where he writes on science and art. Together with Antonio Criminisi, he wrote an article in NEW 1_2005: "Paolo Uccello's 'Battle of San Romano': Order from Chaos" is the most recent report on how they apply 3D graphic techniques to the process of art history investigation.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Ярослава]

Короткий огляд історії мистецтва від оксфордського професора мистецтвознавства: курс від найдавніших часів до наших днів, і кожна епоха чи течія, на якій автор зупиняється, проілюстрована репрезентативною роботою. Огляд дуже базовий, там не буде буквально нічого нового, якщо ви знаєте про мистецтво хоч щось, але мені і треба було щось дуже базове - змушую себе читати своєю кульгавенькою італійською, тож шукаю тексти на цікаві мені теми, де я в принципі розуміла б зміст))
Кемп - дослідник Ренесансу (спеціалізується на Леонардо), тому про давніші епохи пише захопленіше й захопливіше, ніж про нові. У нових він такий: "За останні пів століття ми перейшли до епохи плюралізму, яку часто супроводжує цинізм, іронія і свідома алієнація. Мистецтво замкнуте в мультикультуралізмі і глобальних медія, та ще й служить саме собі рекламою. Гучне ім'я митця стало комерційним продуктом. У цьому контексті новітнє мистецтво легко списати як ефемерні прояви індустрії розваг. Проте великі і чесні художники завжди вміють долати свої обставини". І ти така: (1) еее, тільки мені вчувається сумнів в останньому реченні у автора? (2) ахаха лол, давнє мистецтво вже давно стало найкращою фінансовою інвестицією, і кому це знати краще, ніж Мартінові Кемпові, який вписувався в дискусії щодо автентичності всіх свіжознайдених "Леонардо", піднімаючи їхню ціну на сотні мільйонів доларів? так що якщо визначати "чесне мистецтво" на основі таких факторів його функціонування в суспільстві як реклама й комерційність, то першим доведеться викидати Леонардо.

На філософськи-теоретичних висновках автора просто шкода: "Чи є в мистецтві щось, що виходить поза рамки його історичного контексту? Якщо ми вважаємо його 'осадом соціальних стосунків', то чи значить це, що в ньому немає нічого більшого?" І відповідь - ну, тіпа, мистецтво до нас по-людськи звертається. От навіщо було ці висновки писати взагалі?

А так - короткий репрезентативний огляд, якщо комусь треба щось саме в цьому жанрі, то це його нормальний приклад.

[Joyce Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this work...except for the poor reproductions of the paintings under discussion.

It's not for me to comment on Professor Kemp's critiques of art works beyond saying that I learned a lot and thought a lot, which was why I read the book. Job done.

What I really admired was Kemp's wonderfully lucid prose that never once drew attention to itself and away from its subject matter. Quite the opposite of pretentious, I thought. The linking of the works of art to their historical context were particularly insightful.

[Lucía · Rating 4 out of 5]

He tenido que leerme este libro para la Universidad (cómo no) y ha sido de los más amenos que me han mandado nunca. Os comento de qué va. Martin Kemp nos hace un repaso por toda la Historia del Arte desde los griegos hasta la actualidad donde de forma muy amena y sencilla nos pone en relación el arte con su contexto histórico.

En el libro hay muchas fotografías y muchos ejemplos de los que el autor se sirve para hablar de las características del arte en cada época histórica y del valor que se le daban a las obras y a los artistas en cada período. Desde Grecia donde el artista era socialmente reconocido, pasando por la Edad Media donde el artistas importaba tan poco que no nos ha quedado el nombre de ningún pintor, escultor o arquitecto hasta la modernidad donde el artistas busca llamar la atención y muchas veces ser criticado negativamente.

Pese a ser un libro de Historia me ha gustado muchísimo el carácter tan divulgativo que tiene aunque sí que es cierto que algunas partes se me han hecho un poco largas porque si algún defecto tiene, es que en ocasiones pone tantos ejemplos que se pierde de vista el punto de partida: el arte dentro de la Historia.

Esta reseña es muy breve porque el libro también lo es y, francamente, no sé qué más decir sin caer en un spoiler por lo que si hay alguien interesado en el arte, le recomiendo este libro que se lee muy rápido y es muy fácil de entender.

[Lucia M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesante, sencillo y bastante corto, es el libro ideal para comenzar a estudiar el arte, ya que expone de manera fluida las características del arte en distintos períodos, con ejemplos de artistas y obras representstivas, sin dejar de observar la sociedad en la que tuvieron lugar.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book in the gift shop of an Art Gallery. After previously reading another book on art recently and really enjoying it, I thought I’d give another one a go!

I can’t say I overly enjoyed this but there was parts that I found interesting. The actual descriptions of different pieces were very well-written but the journey through history felt at times to be cumbersome. I almost felt tired trying to get through sections. It’s certainly not a bad book, but I felt as though the writing could have enticed the reading so much more so. It almost felt like a lecture than a wonderful story of art in history. Moreover, I have to say it’s disappointing just how Euro-centric the book is. I know most studies of pretty much everything we read is Euro-centric, but not even a mention of Asian or African art is quite unfortunate. It does get better as it goes on so if you do pick it up, I would recommend finishing.

[Am Y · Rating 2 out of 5]

In each of the chapters (different periods in art history), the author brings up certain artworks and talks about them. E.g. The curtains drawn in the painting suggest that blah blah. I found it all to be eye-rolling, pretentious poppycock, as with other similar art books where the authors think they can analyse and say with certainty what the creator meant when he did certain things in his artwork.

The epilogue of this book though, took on a totally different tone. I was questioning what the point of this book was; this was answered here. I just wondered why the author had not written the other chapters in a similar tone and with that similar point in mind.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handy little guide to the development of art, but I'd rather have a more expensive one with full colour illustrations. To see my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.com/2015/03/02/ar...

[BuzzBuzz · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pleasant read for someone who feels like refreshing their memory of key turning points in art history, but that is all that it is.

The goal of the book is only really made explicit in the very conclusion! And it does not offer particular guidance and adequate argumentation and explanation to this end throughout the text.

Stay away, oh those who dislike the self-indulgenc style of art descriptors and those who expect a well laid out path. I also would not recommend it to those who have almost no knowledge of art history, as various movements and concepts are exemplified with a single chosen work - hardly enough to understand or remember or consolidate the visual concepts.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma visão abrangente do percurso da cultura artística, focada no desenvolvimento de ideias em determinadas épocas. Vamos da pré-história ao momento contemporâneo, passando pelos grandes marcos da continuidade artística. Kemp, profundo conhecedor da história da arte, mostra-nos como os conceitos artísticos se ligam intimamente às suas épocas. O formalismo greco-romano fez sentido nesse tempo, tal como hoje faz o conceptualismo experimental. A arte evolui por tendências e indivíduos que as sabem manipular, mas também de um intercâmbio de vanguarda que pega na crista da onda das ideias, das influências sociais e tecnológicas, sempre em busca de novos horizontes, conceitos e estéticas.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pretty disappointing attempt at placing art in history (only in the western world until the modern era). I was hoping to get a bit of a refresher on AP art history and learn some fun facts. This has fun facts for people with no background in art history. I found the quotes beginning each chapter the most valuable. I enjoyed the section on orientalizing, but otherwise found this cursory and vapid. Definitely a retiring scholar given a book deal with zero inspiration.

[Santiago Endara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very brief book to cover 2600 years of art. It gives a simple and fast glimpse of the most relevant works of art through history and the evolution of both the art and the artists in their interaction with society.

A weakness of this book is that the author analyses certain works of art depicted in the book, but the pictures are small and in black and white, so it's impossible to appreciate or understand the author's analysis.

[Josefa Belén · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha encantado la facilidad que tiene el autor para hablar de la historia del arte. Muy breve pero completo a la vez.
Lo que si sugiero es tener una noción de la historia del arte previamente antes de leer el libro, ya que podrías ir perdiendo el hilo ya que son muchas corrientes y autores muuuy brevemente mencionados.
Por lo demás, excelente libro para aprender un poquito del arte y su historia.

[Ayelen Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 estrellas

Un muy buen libro para empezar a leer sobre historia del arte. Es como un pequeño resumen sobre las obras más importantes y los movimientos pictóricos,peor no entra en detalles de profundidad.

[Amy Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great introduction to art and history laid out chronologically, written succinctly and informally. I really recommend this to anyone with little knowledge of art, but its insightfulness makes it a good read for anyone.

[Burcu · Rating 4 out of 5]

È un buon libro sulla storia dell'arte. Era fluente e informativo allo stesso tempo. Mi piace anche la approccio dell'autore, non era molto filosofico se stesso ma si invita a pensare sulla filosofia dell'arte.

[Elisabetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

La trattazione è molto interessante, anche se volendo coprire un arco decisamente lungo deve per forza essere sintetica.
Una grossa pecca è la qualità delle immagini riprodotte, purtroppo in bianco e nero su una carta inadatta, su cui la stampa perde moltissimo dettaglio.

[Álvaro Nicolás Velásquez Narváez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un hermoso insumo para introducir la Historia del Arte, como libro de difusión es un tremendo aporte. La capacidad del autor de simplificar y hacer amena la lectura es notable, es un excelente insumo educativo.

[Ellie Mackin Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably would have rated this book much higher if women were mentioned before the very end.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple whizz through thousands of years of art.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of the main schools of thought in European art. However, only five women in the whole book towards its conclusion.

[Katie Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction into the theory and progress of Western Art. Wish they'd make an equivalent of Global Art.

[Samhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read, Kemp should have used simpler vocabulary and explained art terms more.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text is interesting and this should be a short Gallup. However, the black and white poor quality reproductions make this a tedious journey.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

do better Martin Kemp

[pher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brevissima storia dell'Arte (principalmente la pittura occidentale) raccontata da Kemp. Nel genere un bel risultato.

[Pierre Sabourin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quel beau voyage dans le temps. Les mouvements artistiques et les artistes sont si bien décrits. Référence.

[Lady Socióloga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me esperaba más de este libro. Esperaba que explicase en más profundidad la relación entre los acontecimientos históricos, las corrientes filosóficas, la mejora de las técnicas y la producción de arte según las épocas.

...Y era demasiado esperar para un libro de tan pocas páginas. Aun así, sirve de introducción a la historia del Arte, contando curiosidades y con pequeñas viñetas cómicas. Y me sirvió de recordatorio para el siguiente que leí.

[Stefan Dion Garcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not know that they wrote history books like this anymore, so conventional and dry. While some of the facts I learnt were new, none of the artworks were. I am annoyed that it only represents Western Art. It should have been called Art in Western History. This book was not at all illuminating.

[Andrew Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written mix of history and the art it caused. The text is easy to read and very informative; just a bit frustrating that the paintings are reproduced to such poor quality.