Nationalism and classicism : the classical body as national symbol in nineteenth-century England and France

This is a comparative study of the national significance of the classical revival which marked English and French art during the second half of the 19th century. It argues that the main focus of artists' interest in classical Greece, was the body of the Greek athlete. It explains this interest, first, by artists' contact with the art of Pheidias and Polycletus which portrayed it; and second, by the claim, made by physical anthropologists, that the classical body typified the race of the European nations. Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Physical Anthropology and the Greek Ideal....Pages 3-24 Positivism and Realist Aesthetics....Pages 25-34 The Making of the Artist-Anthropologist....Pages 35-55 Hellenism and Ethnographic Art....Pages 56-84 Front Matter....Pages 85-85 The Greek Body and Christian Thought....Pages 87-107 The National Significance of Physical Anthropology....Pages 108-130 Front Matter....Pages 131-131 Images of Greeks as Images of God....Pages 133-156 Images of Greece as Images of England....Pages 157-179 Images of Greece as Images of France....Pages 180-199 Conclusion....Pages 200-202 Back Matter....Pages 203-260 This Is A Comparative Study Of The National Significance Of The Classical Revival Which Marked English And French Art During The Second Half Of The Nineteenth Century. It Argues That The Main Focus Of Artists' Interest In Classical Greece, Was The Body Of The Greek Athlete. It Explains This Interest, First, By Artists' Contact With The Art Of Pheidias And Polycletus Which Portrayed It; And Second, By The Claim, Made By Physical Anthropologists, That The Classical Body Typified The Race Of The European Nations.