Folio Archives 394: Landscape into Art by Kenneth Clark 2013

Landscape into Art by Kenneth Clark 2013

This was the last presentation book issued by the Folio Society as its history of selling only to members came to an end. Presentation books were given to members who purchased at least four books in any calendar year. These books were usually of a high quality and much sought after at the time, but were issued in very high numbers and so are generally cheaper on the secondary market.

Kenneth Clark takes the reader through the history of landscape art, from incidental landscapes in medieval religious paintings to abstract modern interpretations. The book is based on lectures Clark gave in 1946 at Oxford University. He was an art historian as well as a lecturer and author, and his lectures were so well received that they were converted into this book which was first published in 1949. It is now a classic text in the art world.

The xiv+188 page book is light reading and profusely illustrated with art that illustrates the text. It is printed on low gloss paper throughout for the benefit of the reproduced artwork.

There is a four page introduction by Will Gompertz and two page author’s preface. The endpapers are plain mid-brown and the book is quarter bound in dark blue cloth with gilt spine titling and colour picture printed paper covers. The book is (appropriately) in landscape format and the plain blue slipcase measures 24.4x28.1cm.





































































An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.