The Two Art Histories: The Museum And The University

Art history’s contradictory feud between its academic and its museum practitioners is the subject of this collection of essays, first presented at a conference of the same name held at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in April 1999. Questions of why the gulf exists, the difference in practice between the two groups, and issues raised by various approaches to display of art in museums and special exhibitions are considered, with specific cases described in the US, Britain, and Germany. The contributors are senior scholars in art history, both curators and academics. Haxthausen teaches art history at Williams College and directs the graduate program at the Clark Art Institute. The book is distributed by Yale University Press. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)