Gombrich: A Theory of Art

Joaquin Lorda
Translated by Tim Nicholson
Edited by María Angélica Martínez, Juan Luis Lorda, María Antonia Frías, Ramón Alemany
Preface by E. H. Gombrich
Afterword by Partha Mitter

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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 ideas showing 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 teoría del arte, by Joaquín 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, Play 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.

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

Reviews

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.
– Richard Woodfield, Journal of Art Historiography Blog

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.

Tim Nicholson is a translator who works for TISA in the Basque region, Spain.

María Angélica Martínez is the Editor and Coordinator of the ART T&H Group at the University of Navarra, 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.