A Companion to British Art: 1600 to the Present

Product Description

This companion is a collection of newly-commissioned essays written by leading scholars in the field, providing a comprehensive introduction to British art history.

A generously-illustrated collection of newly-commissioned essays which provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of British art Combines original research with a survey of existing scholarship and the state of the field Touches on the whole of the history of British art, from 800-2000, with increasing attention paid to the periods after 1500 Provides the first comprehensive introduction to British art of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, one of the most lively and innovative areas of art-historical study Presents in depth the major preoccupations that have emerged from recent scholarship, including aesthetics, gender, British art’s relationship to Modernity, nationhood and nationality, and the institutions of the British art world

Review

"The editors have brought together the latest conclusions of prominent specialists of each period to build a fascinating panorama which is more than the sum of its parts and will delight both newcomers to the field and specialists of British art who will appreciate its coherence and thorough enjoyability. A Companion to British Art should feature in all good libraries covering British and art history." (Cercles, 1 March 2014)

"While aimed at 'tutors and students,' these often dense essays will appeal most to scholars wishing to explore provocative new approaches to the study of British art. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above." (Choice, 1 November 2013)

Review

“A Companion to British Art: 1600 to the Present is a sparkling collection of consistently high-quality, freshly-minted essays that is a pleasure to read. The book manages the admirable feat of alerting us to the major themes and preoccupations of recent scholarship on British art whilst also breaking entirely new ground. Whether discussing the Elizabethan miniature, seventeenth-century decorative history painting, Reynolds's portraits, Victorian narrative paintings, or the art of the 1960s, the assembled pieces fizz with originality, ambition and intellectual energy. This book will provide scholars and students of British art with an extremely stimulating point of reference and focus of debate for many years to come.”
Mark Hallett, University of York
“British art has been the focus of innovatory critical investigations and re-readings over recent decades and this book includes many of the foremost scholars currently engaged in the field. It provides a fascinating, intellectually rigorous yet accessible series of studies around the dominant themes of modernity, identities and nationhood and will be an essential resource for students and academics alike.”
Ysanne Holt, University of Northumbria
"A fascinating collection of essays which examines the most pressing theoretical and historical concerns in the field of British art and sets out a compelling agenda for future scholarship."
Michael Hatt, University of Warwick

From the Inside Flap

Over the last two decades, British art of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries has been one of the most lively and innovative areas of art-historical study. In response to this surge of interest in the field, this collection of newly commissioned essays by leading scholars provides a comprehensive introduction to British art history, from 1600 to the present.
The book is organized thematically to present in depth the major preoccupations that have emerged from recent scholarship in British Art. These include aesthetics, gender, modernity, nationhood, and nationality, and the institutions of the British art world.
Illustrated throughout and combining original research with a survey of the current state of the field, A Companion to British Art provides a much-needed resource for students, teachers, and researchers alike.

From the Back Cover

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