The Analysis of Beauty

Why do we consider some things beautiful and others ugly some elegant and others awkward? English artist and satirist WILLIAM HOGARTH (1697-1764) who was so innovative that he invented what we call today the comic strip was famous-some of his contemporaries would have said infamous-for his skewering of 18th-century ideals of morality and sexuality especially those prevalent among the upper classes. And in this 1753 classic he mounted an argument that might have appalled some of his detractors: that beauty is not a matter of taste and fashion but arises naturally as a matter of certain inviolate rules. Decrying the prejudice and self-opinion prejudices our sight Hogarth explores the six principles he sees as guiding our eyes toward true beauty: fitness variety regularity simplicity intricacy and quantity. Artists and students of both art history and 18th century culture will find this essential and fascinating reading.