The Outline of Art by Sir William Orpen & Horace Shipp

The Outline of Art is a substantial and beautifully produced survey of the history and development of art, edited by the celebrated Irish painter Sir William Orpen and revised by Horace Shipp. This 1950 revised and enlarged edition presents a broad overview of artistic achievement across civilizations, covering painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative arts, and the evolution of artistic movements from antiquity through to the modern era.

Designed as an accessible yet authoritative reference work, The Outline of Art combines scholarly text with numerous illustrations, making it an excellent resource for collectors, students of art history, artists, designers, and anyone with an appreciation for the visual arts. Orpen’s involvement lends particular significance to the work, as he was one of the most respected portrait painters of the early twentieth century and a prominent figure in British and Irish art.

Published by George Newnes Limited, this edition was completely revised and enlarged, reflecting mid-century developments in art scholarship. The Outline of Art remains a desirable addition to libraries focused on art history, cultural studies, museum collections, and vintage reference works. Its attractive cloth binding, decorative gilt cover device, and substantial format make it an appealing display piece as well as a practical reference.

Today, The Outline of Art continues to offer fascinating insight into how art history was interpreted and presented during the mid-twentieth century, making it both a useful educational work and an interesting collectible for enthusiasts of vintage art books.

Condition – Very Good

Hardcover, 1950 edition. No dust jacket. Red cloth boards with decorative gilt device to front cover. Some staining and marks to the covers. Spine lettering faded. Blacked-out previous ownership marking on the endpaper. Internally clean and well-preserved with the binding remaining sound.