Alfred Gilbert''s Aestheticism - Gilbert Amongst Whistler, Wilde, Leighton, Pater and Burne-Jones

Alfred Gilbert's Aestheticism presents the first sustained re-evaluation of the life and work of one of the most acclaimed sculptors of the late-Victorian period. Drawing on important new archival sources, this ground-breaking study challenges the customary assumption that Aestheticism was primarily a literary, painterly or architectural phenomena. Jason Edwards reveals both the diverse ways in which Gilbert's sculptures operated within the context of Aestheticism and also how these works provided a unique and provocative commentary on the history of masculine friendship and eroticism in the period leading up to and beyond the Wilde trials in 1895. Detailed readings are offered of the relationship of Gilbert's work to essays by Pater and Swinburne, poems, plays, and novels by Wilde and W. S. Gilbert, and paintings by Burne-Jones, Leighton, Rossetti, Solomon, Whistler, and Watts. With over 90 illustrations, including key contemporary photographs showing Gilbert's works in their original contexts, this book makes a major contribution to the field of Victorian sculpture studies.

List of contents

Contents: Introduction: Alfred Gilbert's Aestheticism; A portrait of the artist as a young aesthete: Perseus Arming (1882) and 'Grosvenor' Aestheticism; Icarus (1884): 'academic' Aestheticism at Leighton and Burlington House; Allegorizing love in fin-de-siècle London: Eros (1886-93) and Piccadilly Aestheticism; The truth of masks: Comedy and Tragedy: 'Sic Vita' (1892); From Cleveland Street to Bruges: the Clarence Memorial Tomb (1892-99); Conclusion: G. F. Watts and the end of Gilbert's Aestheticism, 1899-1903; Bibliography; Index.

About the author

Jason Edwards is Lecturer in Art History at the University of York, UK.

Product details

• Authors: Jason Edwards
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.03.2017
• EAN: 9781138263659
• ISBN: 978-1-138-26365-9
• No. of pages: 292
• Series: British Art and Visual Culture since 1750 New Readings
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Miscellaneous; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, Europe, Theory of art, The arts: general issues, ART / History / General, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / General, ART / Criticism & Theory, ART / European, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 19th Century, History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, History of Art, Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900, Non-graphic art forms, Social and cultural history, Non-graphic and electronic art forms, The arts: general topics