Portraits and Persons

Nonfiction, Art & Architecture, Photography, General Art, History
Cover of the book Portraits and Persons by Cynthia Freeland, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Cynthia Freeland ISBN: 9780191613654
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: June 17, 2010
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Cynthia Freeland
ISBN: 9780191613654
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: June 17, 2010
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Portraits have for centuries been one of the most important art forms. But what do portraits tell us? What do they mean? And what makes a picture into a portrait? In this book, leading art philosopher Cynthia Freeland addresses these questions and more. As she shows, portraits have served two fundamental functions throughout the ages. Firstly, they preserve identity, bringing us closer to loved ones who are either absent or dead. And secondly, they tell us something about the subject being portrayed: not just external things such as what they are wearing, but also about the subject's emotions and inner state. Along the way, she addresses a whole host of fascinating problems posed by the art of portraiture. Can a picture of an animal truly be a portrait? How exactly have artists through the ages managed to depict the inner state of the subject being portrayed? Is it in fact possible for an artist to capture someone's individual 'air', their unique aura? And how has science been used to help in this quest? As Freeland shows, portraits are far more than just pretty pictures. They are a fundamental way of looking at ourselves and others, raising profound questions about our identity, how it is revealed, and how it can be preserved even after death.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Portraits have for centuries been one of the most important art forms. But what do portraits tell us? What do they mean? And what makes a picture into a portrait? In this book, leading art philosopher Cynthia Freeland addresses these questions and more. As she shows, portraits have served two fundamental functions throughout the ages. Firstly, they preserve identity, bringing us closer to loved ones who are either absent or dead. And secondly, they tell us something about the subject being portrayed: not just external things such as what they are wearing, but also about the subject's emotions and inner state. Along the way, she addresses a whole host of fascinating problems posed by the art of portraiture. Can a picture of an animal truly be a portrait? How exactly have artists through the ages managed to depict the inner state of the subject being portrayed? Is it in fact possible for an artist to capture someone's individual 'air', their unique aura? And how has science been used to help in this quest? As Freeland shows, portraits are far more than just pretty pictures. They are a fundamental way of looking at ourselves and others, raising profound questions about our identity, how it is revealed, and how it can be preserved even after death.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book The Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Vital Democracy by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Cosmology: A Very Short Introduction by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book EU Mediation Law and Practice by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Oliver Twist by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Vertigo and Dizziness by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Niko's Nature by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book The Death Penalty by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book The Development of World Trade Organization Law by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of the Law of the Sea by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book The Washington Consensus Reconsidered by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Evolution of the Cerebellar Sense of Self by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Soft Innovation by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Singing in the Lower Secondary School by Cynthia Freeland
Cover of the book Free Speech after 9/11 by Cynthia Freeland
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy