The Renaissance: Studies in Art and PoetryOscar Wilde called this collection of essays the "holy writ of beauty." Published to great acclaim in 1837, it examines the work of Renaissance artists such as Winckelmann and the then neglected Botticelli, and includes a celebrated discussion of the Mona Lisa in a study of Da Vinci. Thebook strongly influenced art students and aesthetes of the day and is still valuable for the insights it offers and the beauty of the writing. |
Common terms and phrases
abstract æsthetic æsthetic criticism Amile Amis antique art of Italy artistic Aucassin Aucassin and Nicolette beauty become Bellay Botticelli character characteristic charm Christian church classical colour culture curious Dante death delicate divine effect element expression faint fancy fifteenth century Florence Florentine flowers France French French language genius Giorgione gods Goethe grace Greek art Greek religion hand Hellenic human mind ideal imaginative impressions intellectual interest Italian Italy Joachim du Bellay language legend Leonardo light living Luca della Robbia matter Michelangelo middle age modern mystical nature Nicolette outward pagan painter painting passed passion peculiar penetrate perfect perhaps Pico picture Plato Pleiad poem poetry poets prose pure realisation refined religious Renaissance Rome Ronsard Saint Sandro Botticelli school of Giorgione sculpture seems sense sensuous sentiment songs spirit story strange sweetness Tannhäuser taste things thought touch tradition true Vasari Walter Pater Winckelmann youth