OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Studies in the History of the Renaissance

Capolavoro d’Estetica inglese di fin de siècle sul Rinascimento nel culto del Bello e dell’arte for art’s sake!

Pater begins his discussion by stating in the preface that beauty is relative, and like all abstract terms has meaning only in the concrete. To give meaning to the concept of beauty, the observer does not need to "possess a correct abstract definition" of it, but instead should have "a certain kind of temperament, the power of being deeply moved by the presence of beautiful objects. He will remember always that beauty exists in many forms." Each chapter develops this theme through discussion of a specific artist or critic. Especially interesting are his essays on Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Botticelli. Pater demonstrates his own ability to be "deeply moved" by the artists he considers, using terms such as "charm," "strangeness" and "sweet" along with more traditional historical and critical terms to describe their work. The concluding chapter on Winckelmann synthesizes various points from his treatments of the individual artists into one coherent statement of the meaning and role of beauty in our lives. Art, he says, must be enjoyed for its own sake and not for other more extraneous reasons. It "comes to you professing frankly to give nothing but the highest quality to your moments as they pass, and simply for those moments' sake."Pater has an elegant and engaging writing voice that draws the reader through his various arguments. His prose style is itself an object of beauty. His larger argument has been validated repeatedly throughout the 125 years since he lived. Reading this book, I found myself wondering why it was considered so controversial when it first appeared. Perhaps it was considered revolutionary for its day; but from the perspective of 2014, I found it hard to understand what all the fuss was about.

This is a very good book, a fine example of how literary (or artistic) reviews should be. The prose is sober, sharp and effortlessly displaying a vast knowledge on the topics it touches. Any contemporary literary / book reviewer worthy of this name will tell you that he or she did read Pater constantly (like Harold Bloom or James Woods). Before one reads Pater one could think that's an exaggeration; after reading him, that it's a must.Shakespeare, the Romantics, Vasari and other giants of culture are analyzed here as never before.The only bad thing of this sublime book is that's too short - well, nobody's perfect.

An absolute classic

Essays for any art or history lovers who prefer passion over theory. Less subjective than post-Derridean onanists, Pater makes one yearn to see the works up close. Sensual and excited these little masterpieceswill send your mind on the Grand Tour! Burn with his light!