On Neoclassicism

by Mario Praz, Angus Davidson (Translator)

English (translation)
Original Italian

Genres: Art

Paperback

First published March 1, 1969

About the author

Mario Praz was an Italian-born critic of art and literature, and a scholar of English literature. His best-known book, "La carne, la morte e il diavolo nella letteratura romantica" ("The Romantic Agony" 1933) - written in 1930 - was a comprehensive survey of the erotic and morbid themes that characterized European authors of the late 18th and 19th centuries. He was Professor of Italian Studies at the Victoria University of Manchester, 1932-1934. He taught English literature at the University of Rome from 1934 to his retirement in 1966. In 1962, Queen Elizabeth II made him a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE).
His works of art criticism include an Illustrated History of Interior Decoration, a study on Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, and numerous essays. His last residence, an apartment in Palazzo Primoli, has become a museum, and is open for visits in Rome.

Reviews

[Emma]

soooo good, really rousing writing. flicked through to grab quotes for an essay and lost hours in the library. fallen down a hole of classical antiquity. v inspired and well developed, you can feel the passion through the english translation even.

the essay on canova and beauty is great - reminds me of the bloodknife article ab everyone being beautiful and noone being horny from 2021 (?). I don't know if I agree that Canova was totally passionless, but there is a real frigidity and chaste sensuality which ofc recalls neoclassical ideals vs maybe more carnal baroqueness. I get it, vibe shift. Keat's Odes hit this too & make me think that we're in another similar era of cultural repression and a lack of excitability rn. Anyway.

unrated until I can read the whole thing