SIRÉN, OSVALD. Essentials in art. il *$3.50 Lane 704
20–20086
The author of this volume is professor of the history of art at the University of Stockholm and has a world reputation as lecturer on art, especially primitive Italian art, in other European countries, in America and Japan. The essays in this volume are: Rhythm and form; Art and religion; Art and religion during the renaissance; The importance of the antique to Donatello; A late Gothic poet of line. The last two essays are profusely illustrated. The poet of line in the last essay is Parri Spinelli, a list of whose works is appended.
“His book on Leonardo da Vinci is better worth reading than many others that have been written on that, apparently inexhaustible subject. But his new volume can hardly be said to satisfy the expectations that the title might legitimately arouse.” E. M.
+ − Ath p836 Je 25 ’20 860w
“Most of the book is objective criticism of the highest order; the essay on ‘Rhythm and form’ is both penetrating and remarkable. Professor Sirén understands art—his volume is a distinctive contribution to aesthetics.”
+ Dial 69:666 D ’20 50w
“Really touches essentials only in the initial essay on ‘Rhythm and form,’ in which an important matter is treated with more fulness than precision or originality. The rest is agreeable padding from the author’s recent magazine articles. The book is well made, and has the merit, in a critical work, of being easy to read.”
+ Review 3:564 D 8 ’20 90w