art book recomendations

[Nizza_waaarg]

so im almost completley through a book by kenyon cox (artist and public) and i have to say it's been a great read. I think its the first art book i've read that wasn't cover to cover with details of anatomy or other art instruction.

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend any art books along the same lines as kenyon cox. Anything that goes into a detailed analysis of the old masters, analyzes different art styles, looks at art history, critically looks at modern art and such, anything i guess.

This really is new to me but i'm finding it very interesting and eye opening and i think it's helping me find out why i want to do art professionally and what can actually be acheived with it.

[Art_Addict]

Ellingsworth : He asked for books along the lines of Kenyan Cox. Not art instructional books.

Wich one did you read by Cox? I have 'the classic point of view' and that one's great. Although Ted Jacobs's book of drawing is in fact an art instructional book, it is a bit esotheric as well and might be of interest too.
-' the art spirit' by Robert Henri
-'Methods and Materials of Painting of the Great Schools and Masters' by Sir Charles Lock Eastlake
- 'The Academy and French Painting in the 19th Century' by Albert Boime

I absolutely love that last book. But it may be very hard to find a copy. Boime has written other books as well but I know nothing of those.

[Art_Addict]

It' wasn't my intention to snap at you there Ellingsworth. My eye just fell on the Bridgeman and anatomy books you referred to.

And no, i have not yet read the Hale book.

[Nizza_waaarg]

Ellingsworth: thank you. Hale's 'Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters' is good and i think does double as art instruction and art... analysis (?)(im not sure how i'd describe it), though i have definitley only looked at it as art instruction previously. Art and Fear i picked up just recently as well and has been a very good read, very inspiring.

Art_Addict: Those books sound great, excellent suggestions.
"Artist and Public" is what i've read of Cox so far. He does actually make mention of 'the classic point of view' and supposedly he's elaborating on certain chapters with regards to specific artists (eg: his Raphael essay is an elaboration of his chapter on design) all linking back to his first essay 'artist and public', which talks about the 'illusion of progress' (favourite essay so far, looking for more like this especially). Apparently free to download from project gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16655), might be worth having a read of.

there's something about the way Cox analysis art that really inspires me and actually gets me to take the time to really look in detail at those old master's works.

anyone with more recomendations are welcome too