Hall, James 1918-2007

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born July 18, 1918, in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England; died August 22, 2007. Art historian and author. Hall once described himself to CA as an art historian of amateur status, and his books were addressed to kindred spirits. The first book began with his own attempt to understand the religious and classical themes in the art he most admired. It occurred to Hall that, if he did not understand why a mythical figure was pictured with a specific object in her hand, his ignorance could diminish his appreciation for both the artwork and the artist. He further reasoned that, if he did not understand the symbolism in art, others could likewise be adrift in misunderstanding. Twentieth-century academic curricula focused less on classical and religious subject matter with each passing decade, so Hall began to collect and record his discoveries to share with others. He had worked for British publishers for nearly thirty years before setting up his own business as a book producer in 1972. Not long afterward, Hall completed his first book, Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art, published in 1974, revised in 1979, and eventually translated into several foreign languages. The modest success of this effort fueled additional projects, including A History of Ideas and Images in Italian Art (1983) and Illustrated Dictionary of Symbols in Eastern and Western Art (1994).

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Times (London, England), September 18, 2007, p. 67.