Gombrich: a Theory of Art

A holistic and systematic analysis of Ernst Gombrich as theoristOffers the first holistic and systematic analysis of Gombrich's theoretical ideas and interrogation of their sourcesExamines 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 presuppositionsCaptures and retains Gombrich's appeal and humour, and his straightforward style without losing depthThis 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.