Books › History Of Beauty
History Of Beauty
First published 2004 · 438 pages
A lavish, intellectual stroll through the galleries of human history, guided by a master philosopher.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like taking a private, after-hours tour of a grand museum with a brilliantly erudite curator. It is a leisurely, contemplative experience that invites you to linger over lush illustrations and ponder the shifting sands of human taste. The mood is expansive and intellectually stimulating, wrapping the reader in a rich tapestry of art, literature, and philosophy. The prose is authoritative yet deeply curious, weaving together classical ideals, medieval theology, and modern pluralism without ever losing its sense of wonder. It is a feast for the mind and the eyes, delighting anyone who loves to trace the invisible threads connecting a Renaissance painting to a contemporary fashion magazine, leaving you with a profoundly enriched way of seeing the world.
- Mood
- intellectually stimulating
- museum-like
- reflective
- Tone
- erudite
- contemplative
- analytical
- curious
- Pace
- leisurely
- Themes
- evolution of aesthetics · cultural relativity of taste · intersection of art and philosophy · the sublime and the grotesque
- The writing
- Academic yet accessible, weaving rich historical context with philosophical inquiry and curated literary excerpts.
- The arc
- Moves from a curious exploration of classical ideals to a dizzying appreciation of modern aesthetic pluralism.
- Who it's for
- Art lovers and curious minds who enjoy wandering through museums and pondering the deeper meaning of cultural artifacts.
Content notes
- artistic nudity
- historical depictions of violence
About the book
From the Publisher: What is beauty? What is art? What is taste and fashion? Is beauty something to be observed coolly and rationally or is it something dangerously involving? So begins Umberto Eco's intriguing journey into the aesthetics of beauty, in which he explores the ever-changing concept of the beautiful from the ancient Greeks to today. While closely examining the development of the visual arts and drawing on works of literature from each era, Eco broadens his enquiries to consider a range of concepts, including the idea of love, the unattainable woman, natural inspiration versus numeric formulas, and the continuing importance of ugliness, cruelty, and even the demonic. Professor Eco takes us from classical antiquity to the present day, dispelling many preconceptions along the way and concluding that the relevance of his research is urgent because we live in an age of great reverence for beauty, "an orgy of tolerance, the total syncretism and the absolute and unstoppable polytheism of Beauty." In this, his first illustrated book, Professor Eco offers a layered approach that includes a running narrative, abundant examples of painting and sculpture, and excerpts from writers and philosophers of each age, plus comparative tables. A true road map to the idea of beauty for any reader who wishes to journey into this wonderful realm with Eco's nimble mind as guide.
Description from Open Library.
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