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Chance ordained that Denis Diderot (1713-1784) was not only a philosopher, playwright and writer, but also a salonnier. In other words, an art critic. In 1759, his friend Grimm entrusted him with a project that forced him to acquire "thoughtful notions concerning painting and sculpture" and to refine "art terms, so familiar in his words yet so vague in his mind".
Diderot wrote artistic reviews of exhibitions - Salons - that were organized bi-annually at the Louvre by the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. These reviews, published in the Correspondence Littéraire, were Diderot's unique contribution to art criticism in France. He fulfilled his task of salonnier on nine occasions, despite occasional dips in his enthusiasm and self-confidence.
Compiled and presented by Jean Szenec, this anthology helps the contemporary reader to familiarize himself with Diderot's aesthetic thought in all its greatness. It includes eight illustrations and is followed by texts from Jean Starobinski, Michel Delon, and Arthur Cohen.
'On Art and Artists' is translated by John Glaus, professor of French and an amateur expert of the XVIIIth century.
List of contents
Introduction by Jean Szenec.- Definitions.- The conditions of art.- Criticism.- History.- The countryside.- The portrait.- The type.- Still life.- Diderot in the painter's space by Jean Starobinski.- The averted Look by Michel Delon.- Composition according to Diderot by Arthur Cohen.
About the author
Denis Diderot, geb. am 5. Oktober 1713 in Langres, gest. am 31. Juli 1784 in Paris, war einer der großen Enzyklopädisten und französischen Aufklärer und ist als solcher einer der bedeutendsten Vertreter der europäischen Universalbildung. Seine Ideen haben in vielerlei Hinsicht das Geistesleben seiner Nachwelt geprägt. Er hat neben den 6000 Artikeln der Enzyklopädie und philosophischen Schriften, Dramen, Romane und Erzählungen geschrieben, die meisten erschienen erst posthum.
Summary
Chance ordained that Denis Diderot (1713-1784) was not only a philosopher, playwright and writer, but also a salonnier. In other words, an art critic. In 1759, his friend Grimm entrusted him with a project that forced him to acquire "thoughtful notions concerning painting and sculpture" and to refine "art terms, so familiar in his words yet so vague in his mind".
Diderot wrote artistic reviews of exhibitions – Salons – that were organized bi-annually at the Louvre by the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. These reviews, published in the Correspondence Littéraire, were Diderot’s unique contribution to art criticism in France. He fulfilled his task of salonnier on nine occasions, despite occasional dips in his enthusiasm and self-confidence.
Compiled and presented by Jean Szenec, this anthology helps the contemporary reader to familiarize himself with Diderot’s aesthetic thought in all its greatness. It includes eight illustrations and is followed by texts from Jean Starobinski, Michel Delon, and Arthur Cohen.
‘On Art and Artists’ is translated by John Glaus, professor of French and an amateur expert of the XVIIIth century.
