Victorian Olympus

London: Cardinal Books, 1975 On the back cover: In 1816 Lord Elgin transported the Parthenon sculptures from Athens to London, causing intense excitement in artistic circles. But it was not until the 1860s that painters began to adopt the classical style. The ensuing works of art were ideally suited to society's needs, and such was the harmony between them that the Royal Academy and its members prospered as never before, or since. The prominent artists of the day - Lord Leighton, E. J. Poynter, G. F. Watts, Albert Moore, Alma-Tadema - were all inspired by the Elgin Marbles', yet their interpretations were very different. Leighton's work was strictly classical, while Poynter's incorporated the styles of both Egypt and Rome; Albert Moore's ideal of beauty was founded on ancient Greece, but the girls he painted belonged as much to nineteenth-century London as to ancient Athens; and Alma-Tadema tried to show that aspects of Victorian society reflected a golden, classical age. Each of these artists conjured up an imaginary or extinct world for which society longed, an escape from the harsh realities of modern life. Victorian Olympus is the final volume in a trilogy about the artistic movements of the Victorian era. The accompanying volumes are The Pre-Raphaelite Tragedy and The Aesthetic Adventure. -------------------------- 176 with index and photographs ---------- Orders over $100.00 are shipped using tracked courier delivery services. Size: Approx 5" Wide and 7¾ " Tall