Studies in the History of the Renaissance

'art comes to you professing frankly to give nothing but the highest quality to your moments as they pass, and simply for those moments' sake'In Studies in the History of the Renaissance (1873), a diffident Oxford don produced an audacious and incalculably influential defence of aestheticism. Through his highly idiosyncratic readings of some of the finest paintings, sculptures, and poems of the French and Italian Renaissance, Pater redefined the practice of criticism as an impressionistic, almost erotic exploration of the critic's aesthetic responses. At the same time, reclaiming the Hellenism that he saw as the most characteristic aspect of the Renaissance, he implicitly celebrated homoerotic friendship.Pater's infamous 'Conclusion', which forever linked him with the decadent movement, scandalized many with its insistence on making pleasure the sole motive of life, even as it charmed fellow aesthetes such as Oscar Wilde. This edition of Studies reproduces the text of the first edition, recapturing its initial impact, and the Introduction celebrates its doomed attempt to stand out against the processes of industrialization. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Product details

• Authors: Matthew Beaumont, Walter Pater, Pater Walter
• Assisted by: Matthew Beaumont (Editor), Matthew (Senior Lecturer in English Beaumont (Editor)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press Trade
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 11.02.2010
• EAN: 9780199535071
• ISBN: 978-0-19-953507-1
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 198 mm x 15 mm
• Series: World's classics; Oxford World's Classics; World's classics; Oxford World's Classics; World's classics
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; Humanities, art, music > Art > Art history; History, English, HISTORY / General, ART / History / General, PHILOSOPHY / Aesthetics, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 19th Century, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, History of Art, Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900, Philosophy: aesthetics, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, Renaissance art, Renaissance style, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, C 1700 To C 1800