Customer Reviews
Yes a classic but too linear - By: Massimo, 01 May 2008 
He loves a neat linear narrative.
Insisting all western art (and there's nothing non-Western) follows a first there was this, then artists thought that, then artists thought that is way too simplistic.
Yes it's a classic but is only usefulin the classroom for school-age kids to grasp what a wide range of Euro-centric art looked like but nothing beyond that.
The first, best introduction to Art and Art History there is. Superb. - By: Sable Unadorned, 03 Jan 2008 
It might be recommendation enough to see that this book has beenin continual publication for nearly sixty years, but that's just the start. The one thing which really sets this work apart is Gombrich himself - his love for his subject, his unpretentious attitude & his humility & generosity of spirit. These shine through from the moment one reads the introduction: "There are no bad reasons for liking a painting; there are bad reasons for not liking a painting". Gombrich shows us that fine art isn't just the province of snobby, Courtauld Institute dons; it's for everyone, & accessing it is easy, & enjoyable.
Originally written for younger readers, that wasin a time when 'younger readers' were expected to be substantially more literate than they are today, & adults won't feel at all talked-down-to.
This is the best-selling book on artin the world. There is a reason for that.
Starter - By: Jana, 18 Sep 2007 
It is a good book to start with, if you`re interestedin the History of Art, but no way should it be treated as a complete. Once again - nothing is said about female artists, there are some gaps, & I personally would like to read some more on photography, XX & Eastern European artin particular.
'THE' Story Of Art - By: H. Brown, 31 Jul 2007 31 July 2007
I bought this book backin April 2007 & have just literally finished. (I am quite a slow reader but have you seen the size of it?)
This book was recommended to me by a university that I am about to embark on a course to learn to teach Art & Designin secondary school. So I bought it & settled down to months of reading it.
I was quite intimidated by the size of this book but I began with an open mind & within a few pages I wasin love. It is a fantastic book that, at times, reads like a novel & at other times reads like a journal (by which I mean that the author allows his own perspective to shake your ideas & guide you forward.)
This book was recommenced to me & so I wish to recommend it to youin turn. You won't have read an art book from cover to cover like this before.
Updated 18 July 2008
After my Teaching course I felt I should add a small comment to my previous celebration of such a well written book. Over the past year I have entered into heated discussions centered round this book & it has been brought to my attention that there is not one single mention of female artists (not even once) throughout this entire book! I was shocked. More over, I felt deceived. I have no idea how I could have missed such an obvious fact. The very first chance I could, I grabbed it & began my futile search to prove my tutor wrong... needless to say, I failed.
I referenced this book a lot over the teaching course for assignments & whatnot & with my new qualification I am still willing to stick by my original 5 star rating even though it is quite obviously not 'THE' Story of Art.
Difficult to rate - By: Laura, 09 Apr 2007 Gombrich's 'The Story of Art' is one of the referred to texts of my Art History BA Degree, being a contextual comment on the History of Art as a somewhat indefinable whole. He focuses on the canon of art prominentin his era, & one must consider this when reading it - do not under any circumstances allow yourself to be guided to Gombrich's representation of a singular art history. Instead, analyse his motives & contextual issues when you read it - this will surely improve your own grasp of stories of Art. He writes for the male scholar of a certain class with certain interests, & for the 'modern' reader like myself (I am female & 18) this is undoubtedly narrow minded. Cultural diversities & the feminine inputs to Art are among factors that do not crop upin his volume, as some reviewers previous to me have mentioned, but it is an excellent reference & interesting mark for western society's ever changing & often selective approach to Art History. To be followed by James Elkins' broader 'The Stories of Art', most definitely.
