The Benin Plaques: A 16th Century Imperial Monument (Routledge Research in Art History)

"The 16th century bronze plaques from the kingdom of Benin are among the most recognized masterpieces of African art, and yet many details of their commission and installation in the palace in Benin City, Nigeria, are little understood. The Benin Plaques, A 16th Century Imperial Monument is a detailed analysis of a corpus of nearly 850 bronze plaques that were installed in the court of the Benin kingdom at the moment of its greatest political power and geographic reach. By examining European accounts, Benin oral histories, and the physical evidence of the extant plaques, Gunsch is the first to propose an installation pattern for the series. Her work also uncovers new evidence about the authorship, patronage, and dating of the plaques. Although the plaques are now dispersed among 55 institutions worldwide, this book tells their story as a single art installation, including the rationale for the patronage of such a monumental undertaking and an evidence-based reconstruction of the palace audience court. An updated list of the current location for all the known plaques is included in the annex."--Provided by publisher MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Cover 1 Half Titel 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Figures 9 Tables 26 Acknowledgements 27 1 Introduction 32 2 A brief overview of politics, art and European contacts 45 3 Threat and creativity: the political context for Esigie’s commission 56 4 Remembrance and memorial: methods of commemorating history in Benin art 76 5 Patterns of authorship: the workshop method and architectural installation of the plaque corpus 105 6 The installation of the plaque corpus under Esigie and Orhogbua 154 7 Conclusion: a theory that covers the facts 228 Annex 1: plaques by flange-pattern category 234 Annex 2: flange patterns by sub-type 240 Annex 3: views of reconstructed palace 242 Annex 4: list of plaques by institution 244 Glossary 264 Bibliography 266 Index 274 The 16th Century Bronze Plaques From The Kingdom Of Benin Are Among The Most Recognized Masterpieces Of African Art, And Yet Many Details Of Their Commission And Installation In The Palace In Benin City, Nigeria, Are Little Understood. The Benin Plaques, A 16th Century Imperial Monument Is A Detailed Analysis Of A Corpus Of Nearly 850 Bronze Plaques That Were Installed In The Court Of The Benin Kingdom At The Moment Of Its Greatest Political Power And Geographic Reach. By Examining European Accounts, Benin Oral Histories, And The Physical Evidence Of The Extant Plaques, Gunsch Is The First To Propose An Installation Pattern For The Series. Introduction -- A Brief Overview Of Politics, Art And European Contacts -- Threat And Creativity: The Political Context For Esigie's Commission -- Remembrance And Memorial: Methods Of Commemorating History In Benin Art -- Patterns Of Authorship: The Workshop Method And Architectural Installation Of The Plaque Corpus -- The Installation Of The Plaque Corpus Under Esigie And Orhogbua -- Conclusion: A Theory That Covers The Facts. Kathryn Wyoscki Gunsch. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Originally published in 1980, this book presents a detailed account of a series of investigations that examined the patterns of resort to drugs and alcohol use in college youth, and how such substance uses are linked to personality characteristics and daydreaming patterns. The Editors chose to emphasize the more'private'features of the personality, because these had often been ignored in earlier research, despite popular assumptions that there are close ties between fantasy, inwardness,'spacey'qualities (all suggesting permanent changes in mental organization), and substance use in youth. This volume will be of interest to a wider audience than just drug and alcohol researchers, because of the effort to go beyond normative patterns of substance use toward explorations of personality and consciousness.