Over the course of the past couple of months, I wrote a series of articles on three different but interrelated themes: a. the myth of Laocoon, the Trojan priest whose … Continue reading Ancient Art & 19th Century Aesthetics
Tag: classics
A Roman lesson on the Corona-virus
An unlikely argument in favour of social distancing comes from one of Rome’s greatest scholars, Marcus Terrentius Varo (116 BCE- 27 CE) in the second volume of his book ‘On … Continue reading A Roman lesson on the Corona-virus
Four Paintings of Perseus turning Phineus and his Followers into Stone
On the way back from his quest for Medusa’s head, Perseus passed from an Ethiopian Kingdom where he saved princess Andromeda from the terrible sea-monster called Keto. The monster was … Continue reading Four Paintings of Perseus turning Phineus and his Followers into Stone
Freud looking at Medusa
Lately I have been reading a lot about Medusa’s symbolism and place in ancient art and religion. That’s how I came across this essay by Sigmund Freud written in 1922 … Continue reading Freud looking at Medusa
Plotinus, Neoplatonism and Beauty
Plotinus (ca 205-270 CE) was the founder of Neoplatonism, a school of philosophy inspired by Plato’s ideas some 600 years after the philosopher’s death. Plotinus was born in the Lycopolis … Continue reading Plotinus, Neoplatonism and Beauty
The National Monument of Scotland: the Politics of the Scottish Parthenon
The full article was published at the Historic-UK magazine and can be found at: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/National-Monument-of-Scotland/ Most famously called by its resident architect the ‘pride and poverty of us Scots’, the … Continue reading The National Monument of Scotland: the Politics of the Scottish Parthenon
The lure of the Incomplete, the Imperfect and the Fragmented in Art
Until mid-19th century, an unfinished artwork was unacceptable for both aesthetic and philosophical reasons. A result of this tendency was that collectors of ancient art (mainly Greek and Roman) would … Continue reading The lure of the Incomplete, the Imperfect and the Fragmented in Art
Modernism and the Classical Ideal: Ashmole’s 1932 debate with Wilenski
*cover: Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Phidias Showing the Frieze of the Parthenon to his Friends, 1868, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. In 1932 Bernard Ashmole delivered nine talks under the theme ‘Art in … Continue reading Modernism and the Classical Ideal: Ashmole’s 1932 debate with Wilenski
Antonisch 