18th and 19th century

Question 1

In what ways did the 18th century classical differ from the 19th century

Answer 1

1. 19th century defined by eclecticism - broadening appeal and access thanks to the rise of print media, public museums, and the novelty/entertainment quality.
2. among the elites - the Grand Tour evolving into archaeological involvement
3. realisation that the things they had were copies - obsession with ‘genuine’ greek works
4. need to expand the collections, intercompetition. private collections sold and expanded.
5. though resisted by traditionalists, there was a desire to present an art history chronologically and no longer just an interest in the Greek Classical.

Question 2

Who wrote ‘Types of Mankind’ and when?

Answer 2

Josiah Nott, 1854

Question 3

Facial angle theory

Answer 3

Camper, P, 18th c.

Question 4

What was WInckelmann’s perception of the Apollo Belvedere and the Laocoon?

Answer 4

AB: ideal human form, peak of aesthetic achievement and pinnacle of Greek artistic achievement.

L: attributed moral qualities in a way that reflected contemporary concerns and perception - not the approach taken in modern historical analysis. seen as a continuation of the greek tradition without thinking about it in its Roman context and considering the Roman utilisation of the motif.

Question 5

Lessing’s Laocoon

Answer 5

talks about the sculpture as pushing the limits of representation - maintains a level of beauty, saying that Laocoon’s restraint allows the sculpture to remain beautiful - aestheticise suffering, which is fundamentally ugly.