Tradition and Desire
From David to Delacroix

In this highly original book Norman Bryson applied 'structuralist' and 'post-structuralist' approaches to French Romantic Painting.

Norman Bryson (Author)

9780521335621, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 March 1987

252 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.37 kg

'Particularly impressive is the manner in which, comfortable with the language of the various interpretation theories (Bryson) renders even the technical problems of painting easily accessible to his interdisciplinary audience. Thus integrating contemporary critical theory with the particular demands of art history and criticism, Bryson not only argues persuasively for a new direction in that single discipline; he reaffirms the work of interpretation as the common ground of humanists in all disciplines and so doing, provides a stunning example of critical practice at its very best.' French Review

In this highly original book Norman Bryson applied 'structuralist' and 'post-structuralist' approaches to French Romantic Painting. He considers the work of David, Ingres and Delacroix as artists who found themselves within an artistic tradition that had nothing creative to offer them.

List of illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Tradition and its discontents
2. David and the problem of inheritance
3. Mortal sight: The Oath of the Horatii
4. Visionary delays: Ingres in the atelier of David
5. Tradition and desire
6. Desire in the Bourbon library
Epilogue
Notes
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]