Ananda K. Coomaraswamy

Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers. Near Fine with no dust jacket. 1978. First Edition; First Printing. Art History Art History. First Edition (1978) , not directly stated, but First Printing stated, in accordance with Twayne's customary practice at the time of publication. Very Near Fine: shows only a hint of wear to the upper corner tips where the fabric on the rear tip is just beginning to fray; else flawless; the binding is square and secure; the text is clean. Free of creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of underlining, hi-lighting, notations, or marginalia. Free of any ownership names, dates, addresses, notations, inscriptions, stamps, plates, or labels. A handsome very nearly-new copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing a single unobtrusive imperfection. Bright and clean. Very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. (8.25 x 5.65 x 0.8 inches) . Language: English. Weight: 14.2 ounces. Twayne World Leaders Series. TWL 75. Hardback: Lacks DJ. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877 - 1947) was a Ceylonese metaphysician, historian and a philosopher of Indian art who was an early interpreter of Indian culture to the West. In particular, he is described as "the groundbreaking theorist who was largely responsible for introducing ancient Indian art to the West". Coomaraswamy made important contributions to the philosophy of art, literature, and religion. In Ceylon, he applied the lessons of William Morris to Ceylonese culture and, with his wife Ethel, produced a groundbreaking study of Ceylonese crafts and culture. In the 1920s, he made discoveries in the history of Indian art, particularly some distinctions between Rajput and Moghul painting, and published his book 'Rajput Painting'. At the same time he amassed an unmatched collection of Rajput and Moghul paintings, which he took with him to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, when he joined its curatorial staff in 1917. Through 1932, from his base in Boston, he produced two kinds of publications: brilliant scholarship in his curatorial field but also graceful introductions to Indian and Asian art and culture, typified by 'The Dance of Shiva', a collection of essays that remain in print to this day. Deeply influenced by the Metaphysician René Guénon, he became one of the founders of the Traditionalist School. His books and essays on art and culture, symbolism and metaphysics, scripture, folklore and myth, and still other topics, offer a remarkable education to readers who accept the challenges of his resolutely cross-cultural perspective and insistence on tying every point he makes back to sources in multiple traditions. Alongside the deep and not infrequently difficult writings of this period, he also delighted in polemical writings created for a larger audience—essays such as "Why exhibit works of art?"; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .