Winckelmann, historical difference, and the problem of the boy

Author

Parker, Kevin

Document type

Article (journal)

Language

English

Source

Eighteenth-century studies. 1992, Num. 4, Vol. 25, 523-544

ISSN

0013-2586

Abstract (en)

Considers the treatment of historical difference in Johann Winckelmann's History of ancient art (1764), stating this accounts for the coincidence of the beautiful and the past in Winckelmann's treatment of Greek sculpture of the nude male figure. Argues that Winckelmann's conception of sensate and historical difference is based upon Plato's treatment of love, and of the relation of the true to memory. A corollary of this contention is that the problem of the historical difference in the History of ancient art is similar to Plato's solution to "the problem of the boy," i.e., the proper behavior of the lover and beloved in a male homosexual relation between a Greek citizen and a young freeborn male.

Subject (en)

• General history of art -- 1400-1800 -- Germany
• Winckelmann, Johann Joachim, 1717-1768
• Geschichte der Kunst des Alterthums
• Art historians
• Germany
• 1700-1800
• Antiquarianism
• Greek
• Sculpture
• Nude
• Representation
• Men
• Plato, ca.428-348/47 B.C.
• Influence
• Homosexuality
• Writings

Subject (fr)

• Histoire générale de l'art -- 1400-1800 -- Allemagne
• Winckelmann, Johann Joachim, 1717-1768
• Geschichte der Kunst des Alterthums
• Historiens de l'art
• Allemagne
• 1700-1800
• Antiquarianisme
• Grec (art)
• Sculpture
• Nu
• Représentation
• Hommes
• Platon, v.428-348/47 av. J.C.
• Influence
• Homosexualité
• Ecrits

Origin

DatabaseBHA (Inist-CNRS/GRI)

Identifier19940101-00338766

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