Before publishing the sensuous and scandalous poems of "Les Fleurs du Mal", Charles Baudelaire (1821-67) had already earned respect as a forthright and witty critic of art and literature. This stimulating selection of criticism reveals him as a worshipper at the altar of beauty, illuminating his belief that the pursuit of this ideal must be paramount in artistic expression. Reviews of exhibitions discuss works by great painters such as Delacroix and Ingres in fascinating detail, and "Of Virtuous Plays and Novels" sees Baudelaire as an avenging angel in defence of true art. Writings on Poe, Flaubert and Gautier evoke a profound understanding of fellow artists, while his single excursion into musical criticism, "Richard Wagner and Tannhauser in Paris", displays an incisive awareness of the magical power of suggestion in music.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fascinating Collection of Essays,
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This review is from: Baudelaire: Selected Writings on Art and Literature (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
The Contents of the Book:Introduction 1. The Salon of 1845 [Extract] 2. The Salon of 1846 [Extract] 3. Of Virtuous Plays and Novels 4. The Universal Exhibition of 1855: the Fine Arts [Extract] 5. Of the Essence of Laughter, and generally of the Comic in the Plastic Arts 6. Edgar Allan Poe, his Life and Works 7. Further Notes of Edgar Poe 8. Some French Caricaturists 9. Some Foreign Caricaturists 10. MADAME BOVARY by Gustave Flaubert 11. Theophile Gautier 12. The Salon of 1859 [Extract] 13. Richard Wagner and TANNHAUSER in Paris 14. The Life and Work of Eugene Delacroix 15. The Painter of Modern Life We think of Baudelaire primarily as a remarkable poet, but (like Poe) he was widely read and devoted to the Arts. P. E. Charvey's 26-page Introduction is superb, detailing aspects of Baudelaire's biography and the history of these essays. "The...article on Theophile Gautier shows Baudelaire as a persuasive advocate in a no more than moderately good cause, but the cause of a friend dedicated, as Baudelaire was himself, to art." I am especially grateful to see both of the poet's prefaces to Poe, and the editor spends much space in the Introduction on the correspondences and differences between the two poets. At times the editor himself waxes poetical: "In one particular, Poe's ideal of beauty seems far removed from Baudelaire's. In spite of what Baudelaire claims for her in Poe's poetry, the latter's muse knows not passion, 'the excitement of the heart' as we mortals -- and Baudelaire himself -- understand it; wan, ethereal, she lives in a rarefied atmosphere; she will presently reappear in Pre-Raphaelite studios, inspire Rossetti, and sit for Burne-Jones." The translations in this book seem especially good and the essays are of keen interest in themselves, with the added degree with which they illustrate the mind of Baudelaire. The selection is generous and well-balanced. "In this selection of criticism, Baudelaire's writings on the art of Delacroix, Ingres and Corot, the literature of Poe and Flaubert, and the music of Wagner, among others, illuminate not only those artists, but also the critic himself."
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We are entitled to claim with at least as much accuracy as a well-known writer about his little books: the papers would not dare print what we say. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
significative comic, virtuous plays Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Théophile Gautier, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Poe, Horace Vernet, Victor Hugo, Madame Bovary, Eugene Delacroix, Ary Scheffer, Carle Vernet, Eugéne Delacroix, Holy Grail, Alexandre Dumas, Flying Dutchman, Gustave Flaubert, Middle Ages, New York, Richard Wagner, Bruegel the Droll, Edgar Allan Poe, Jean Jacques, Mademoiselle de Maupin, Robert Macaire, Henri Monnier, United States, Achille Deveria New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
We are entitled to claim with at least as much accuracy as a well-known writer about his little books: the papers would not dare print what we say. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
significative comic, virtuous plays Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Théophile Gautier, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Poe, Horace Vernet, Victor Hugo, Madame Bovary, Eugene Delacroix, Ary Scheffer, Carle Vernet, Eugéne Delacroix, Holy Grail, Alexandre Dumas, Flying Dutchman, Gustave Flaubert, Middle Ages, New York, Richard Wagner, Bruegel the Droll, Edgar Allan Poe, Jean Jacques, Mademoiselle de Maupin, Robert Macaire, Henri Monnier, United States, Achille Deveria New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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