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Development of the Fine Arts Under the Puritans
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009
Extract
In all nations of the world the development of art in its earlier stages has had an undefined but intimate connection with some form of religion, hero-worship, or superstition. In Greek mythology, for instance, we find that Boreas, the North Wind, aided the Athenians against the Persian fleet. By continual repetition Boreas gradually assumed to those who spoke of this event a personal form and character, and at last developed into a divine or semi-divine being. But lest this form and this character be lost, it is necessary that the imaginary attributes of Boreas should be stereotyped. Human imperfection renders this a task which can only be accomplished piecemeal. The poetic art celebrates his actions in its boldest flights of language; the histrionic art gives vitality to the poet's descriptions; while the art of the painter and sculptor permanises the idea of his outward form. Boreas becomes a god, and idol-worship commences by the aid of art.
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- Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1891
References
page 205 note 1 ‘Whom men could not honour in presence because they dwelt far off; they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flattei him that was absent as if he were present. Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more suptrsiition. For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the re-semblance of the best fashion. And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured as a man.’ (Ch. xiv. v. 17–20.)
page 207 note 1 The latter suggestion has been made both by Winckelmann and Montesquieu, and, taking this partial view of the subject, they have laid it down that English art will never reach a high standard.
This view is entirely one-sided. The climate of Holland, which is similar to our own, has not at any time been unfavourable to the development of art in its highest forms. That country has ever been in the van, and has produced a greater proportion of artistic talent than any country in the world.
page 208 note 1 Liber Cantabrigiensis. Introduction.
page 213 note 1 Of course I exclude Homer, but there are some who do not.
page 214 note 1 Hawkins's History of Music.
page 215 note 1 Grove's Dictionary, Art. Portman.
page 215 note 2 Athenaum, 2, 84, p. 178.
page 215 note 3 Evelyn's, Diary, 12 31, 1662Google Scholar.
page 215 note 4 Lambert, Grabut, &c. (French); Lamiere, Malteis, &c. (Italian).
page 218 note 1 Walker.
page 218 note 2 Lely.
page 218 note 3 Hogarth may be considered the founder of the reformed school of British art in the eighteenth century.
page 220 note 1 Rhetoric, Book I., ch. xi. (Κα πε τ κατ ϕ;σιν δ).
page 220 note 2 Hamlet, Act ii;. sc. ii.
page 223 note 1 Bath Abbey is an almost solitary exception.
page 228 note 1 Smiles.