Look at the Paintings

Kenneth Clark (1903–1983) was a British writer, historian, a leading expert in the field of art history, and a practically unique figure in 20th-century art studies. The youngest of the directors of the London National Gallery, which he headed from... 1934 to 1945, Clark established himself early on as an authoritative scholar. However, the idea of art history as knowledge for the chosen few was alien to him, which is why among his specialized writings in the vast legacy of Kenneth Clark is a unique series of documentary films, "Civilization" (1969–1970), the scripts of which were later published as a book. The collection "Look at the Paintings" is also addressed by the author not only to art connoisseurs but also to those seeking help and mentorship. In sixteen essays, the esteemed scholar, with his remarkable erudition and gentle humor, guides his readers along the path followed by his own eye and refined mind while examining a painting. The goal of this exercise is to show how much can be seen after the initial amateur enthusiasm has passed.