Postscript: Joaquín Lorda: A Few Afterthoughts

Joaquín Lorda’s ‘Gombrich: A Theory of Art’ offers a firm and valid discourse, unsurpassed in its objective. Subsequent contributions in related fields, such as Partha Mitter’s epilogue, have interacted rewardingly with it. Professor Mitter and Professor Lorda share an openness to Gombrich’s ideas and their fecundity within different fields and traditions. Mitter highlights Lorda’s meticulous scholarship, rooted in a deep understanding of classical rhetoric and Gombrich’s intellectual influences, and his exploration of the Austrian art historian’s contributions to theories of art, perception, and cultural critique. The epilogue examines Lorda’s study, providing critical insights into Gombrich’s methods and legacy. Whilst celebrating these achievements, Mitter also places his own work on Indian art, carried out under Gombrich’s supervision, in the context of the heated debate on the postcolonial critique of European art history.