Product Description
A substantial survey of Western and non-Western aesthetic thought by one of Britain's leading twentieth-century philosophers of art.
Osborne traces the development of aesthetic theory from classical antiquity through Renaissance and Enlightenment thought, Romanticism, Kantian criticism, and twentieth-century analytic aesthetics.
Particularly notable is the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on Chinese pictorial art alongside discussions of Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, Romantic theory, expressionism, and modern concepts of artistic value.
Illustrated with numerous reproductions of artworks and historical examples, the volume remains a respected introduction to the history of aesthetic philosophy and art criticism.
An appealing provenance copy.
The front free endpaper bears a contemporary gift inscription dated shortly after publication: 'To Lynda, on her birthday.
From Thomas.
Tübingen, Sept.
18, 1969,' accompanied by the quotation 'Beauty is momentary in the mind - The fitful tracing of a portal; But in the flesh it is immortal.
' Also present on the front pastedown is the original Foyles Books label from the celebrated Charing Cross Road bookseller in London, indicating the book's original retail source.
The volume further retains a period bookmark depicting Abbot Bewfforeste of Dorchester Abbey (c.
1510), which has left a faint shadow impression on page 119.
Together these elements provide an unusually complete record of the book's early ownership and use.
Tübingen is a traditional university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 30 km south of the state capital, Stuttgart.
With students accounting for almost one in three of Tübingen's 90,000 residents, the city has one of the youngest profiles in Germany, with an average age of just under 40.
Condition: Very Good book in Very Good dust jacket.
Olive-green cloth boards remain clean and attractive with bright spine label and sound binding.
Text block is clean overall with scattered light age toning and a few small spots visible at the rear endpaper gutter.
No evidence of library markings or major structural defects.
Dust jacket is unclipped and complete, showing moderate edge wear, rubbing, and several small chips and short tears, most noticeable at the spine ends and upper edges.
A period bookmark has left a faint shadow impression on page 119.
Included with the book is an attractive vintage bookmark depicting Abbot Bewfforeste of Dorchester Abbey.
Copyright page states 'First published 1968' with no indication of later impressions or reprints.
This is therefore identified as the First Edition, First Printing issued by Longmans in 1968.
Harold Osborne (1905-1987) was a British philosopher, writer, and influential scholar of aesthetics.
He served as editor of The British Journal of Aesthetics and helped shape postwar discussions of art theory in the English-speaking world.
His works sought to make complex philosophical questions about beauty, artistic value, and aesthetic experience.
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