The Renaissance: Studies in Art and Poetry (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)

One of the most talked-about books of the 19th century, The Renaissance combines scholarship and philosophy in an innovative work of cultural criticism. Published in 1837, Walter Pater's graceful essays discuss the achievements of Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and other artists. Pater concluded his book with an uncompromising advocacy of hedonism, urging readers to experience life as fully as possible. His cry of "art for art's sake" became the manifesto of the Aesthetic Movement, and his assessments of Renaissance art have influenced generations of readers.