Abstract
The taste for classical art that induced museums in the West to acquire masterpieces from ancient Greece and Rome for their collections was stimulated largely by the writings of Johann Joachim Winckelmann. In the past decade, a number of articles have claimed that Winckelmann’s glorification of marble statues representing the white, male body promotes notions of white supremacy. The present article challenges this view by examining theories prevalent in the eighteenth century (especially climate theory) that affected Winckelmann’s views on race. Through an examination of different types of classicism, the article also seeks to demonstrate that Winckelmann’s aesthetics were opposed to the eclectic use of ancient models typical of the fascist regimes of the twentieth century.
Highlights
The taste for classical art that induced museums in the West to acquire masterpieces from ancient Greece and Rome for their collections was stimulated largely by the writings of Johann Joachim Winckelmann
Mirzoeff saw the appeal of removing symbols of white sovereignty in relation to the demands for decolonisation of the curriculum, which “is not a question of revising reading lists.”[2]. With reference to a famous phrase from the art critic John Berger, Mirzoeff called for a critical engagement with “ways of seeing” that could counter the aesthetics of white supremacy
The race ideal promoted by Nott and Gliddon was inspired by the aesthetics of Winckelmann, as well as Dutch physician and anatomist Petrus Camper’s (1722–1789) studies on human physiognomy
Summary
KEY WORDS Winckelmann, Nietzsche, Greek Profile, Facial Angle, Physiognomy, Climate, Decolonisation, Race, Sculpture, Satyr, Ape. DECOLONISING THE AESTHETIC CANON?
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
