P 21 39 HEGEL THE BIRTH OF ART HISTORY
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Art History = originated in Germany (19th C)
Before = unhistorical: universal aesthetic norms
G. Vasari (1511-1574) = first art historian
Work ‘the lives of artists’ = understanding of past art, art’s development
over time was cyclical + discussed achievement of individ artists.
Art peaked in golden age of ancient GR art, declined 4th + 5th C AD,
revived by Giotto 13th C, improved by Masaccio, P.D.Francesca,
Mantegna 15th C + brought to new heights in Vasari’s time by DaVinci,
Raphael, Michelangelo
◦ Art’s value lay in achieving timeless aesthetic norms
AH = recognisable academic discipline 1850 in Germany
◦ Embodiment of distinctive expression of societies/civilis
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J.J. Winckelmann (1717 - 68) = History of Art antiquity
◦Represented aesth achievement bc of the then climate =
government, ideas, society’s undertsanding of an artist
◦Classical art = idealised, humans aspiring to be good, free, at their
best
‣ If these moral values are dependent on cultural contextof that
time, how realised at diff time and place?
J.G. Herder (1744 - 1803) = artworks products of societ w distinct
cult. values
‣ Don’t judge art by another period’s/time standard
‣ Foundation modern AH = 1st characteristic p
‣ Synchronic = relationsh btw art + rest of cult + how latter
O determines former
, G.W.F. Hegel (1770 - 1831) = 2n charact of AH = changes +
developm art over the years
◦Idea of diff + simil btw cultures’ art = systemat soc process
through time = diachronic view
◦Lectures in Aesthetics
1 1 Hegel's Philosophy of art
◦Hermeneutic problem = interpretation
◦Reality = product of Universal Spirit (Geist) + Absolute Idea = how human
mind works within + upon material world throughout history
Art = portrait of human mind = expresses ppls fundam beliefs about
world/themselves = provokes awareness = Idea self - realisat +
overcoming foreigness of Mat world
◦Past + present = connected
◦How art appreciated by someone fom cultur vantage point outside OG
context
1.1.1 Hegel's Art History
3 fundament steps in histor developm of art:
◦Symbolic
Ancient India, Persia -> peak Egypt 3000 BC
Architecture = peak EG = relig symbol > practical purpose
Pyramids = utilitarian aspect outweighs archit symb meaning
◦Classical
Ancient GR = peak late 4th C BC
Sculpture = spirit in bodily form = mind penetrates phys matter
, Balance & harmony = ‘Ilissus’ = natural material is permeated &
conquered by the spirit + artist softened the marble, animated it,
and given it a soul
Winckelmann <-> Hegel = high Q of GR art not bc of timeless aesth
ideal BUT embodied the Idea in which it spiritually could express itself
thru finite phys form of the human body
Bodily form which expresses divinity = becomes limitation = shows in
way GR sculpt abandon balance btw universal + individ = too human
◦Romantic
Rise x-tianity + peak Leo DaVinci/Raphael 1500 AD
Painting, music, poetry
Divine = inner world human soul instead of in extern entities
M.Olympus
Painting = color = arouses subj emotions evoking spectators inner life
Leo, raph, correggio, titian = brought relig spirit into contact w full
range of life in mat world
K. F. Von Rumohr ( 1785 - 1843 )
◦Significance of art = its unique ability to artic visual knowl <-> abstract
conceptual understanding = Hegel generalises art too much
K. Schnaase ( 1798 - 1875 )
◦Arts autonom developm contrib to human beings spirit progress, or relig
◦Kept Hegels = spirit is driving force behind historic developm = others
w/o metaphys cause
Critique 3:
◦Theories didnt link artistic expression w soc condit at the time
◦Marx art historians = art = unequal distrib of power/wealth in societies
