HAMBIDGE, JAY. Dynamic symmetry: the Greek vase, il *$6 Yale univ. press 738
20–15783
“The life-suggesting quality of Greek art by which generation after generation of art-lovers have been impressed is the true theme of the book. To get back of appearances to the source of this quality has been a task occupying more than twenty years of the author’s concentrated mental labor. Why should the Greek masterpieces suggest the life and growth of nature in their design while inferior designs suggest inertia and fail to stimulate the mind? The secret was simple enough, although it has called for an elaborate and extended process of proving by mathematical tests. It consists in the fact that the Greeks did all their measuring for works of art in areas, and that by finding the proportions of these areas in growing organisms such as plants, and especially the human figure, they provided themselves with a guide to the arrangement of areas in design that enabled them to capture vitality in all their works.”—N Y Times
“The make-up of the book is beautiful and the illustrations and general idea are interesting to the lay student, though the study of the text is for the artist.”
+ Booklist 17:60 N ’20
“What seems to distinguish this study is the effort, apparently quite subconsciously made, to cover the whole matter with an air of mystery. This has been done by the familiar device, prehistoric in origin and perennial in its growth, of creating a new vocabulary. Stripped of its mystery and set forth in simple language it would have been an interesting work.” D: E. Smith
− + Nation 111:326 S 18 ’20 1600w
“A contribution to the literature of art more searching and revealing than anything published within this field during the last century.”
+ N Y Times 25:20 Jl 4 ’20 1700w