The Aesthetic Movement
Following their motto "art for art's sake," the aesthetes of England in the 1880s and 1890s had sweeping influence on every aspect of the fine and decorative arts. Lambourne, former head of painting at the Victoria and Albert Museum, begins his very readable, anecdotal study of the aesthetic movement with the Japonaiserie fad that developed after trade was opened with Japan in 1854. From this point he quickly moves to the "aesthetic attitude" that developed?the philosophy that beautiful surroundings added to the quality of life. Aesthetics championed beautiful objects and artifacts for everyone, not just the privileged. Lambourne devotes chapters to Whistler, Ruskin, and Oscar Wilde, as expected, but also expands his focus to include the still awe-inspiring furniture of E.W. Godwin and Charles Rennie MacIntosh. This latest in Phaidon's "Decorative Arts" series is as lavishly illustrated as one would expect from this press. A recommended purchase, this will serve as a fine companion to Jeremy Cooper's Victorian and Edwardian Decor: From The Gothic Revival to Art Nouveau (Abbeville, 1987) and John Ruskin and The Victorian Eye (Abrams, 1993).?Joseph C. Hewgley, Nashville P.L.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.