According to WMR, this essay by Stephens was originally
titled “The Revival of the Feeling in Early Art” when it
was read to him and DGR in December 1849 (see Fredeman, The P.R.B. Journal, 31). The essay is a good statement of Pre-Raphaelite ideas about trecento and quattrocento Italian art, and in particular about DGR's views (see
especially the second paragraph). Moving from a Ruskinian statement
about “Nature” in landscape painting, Stephens proposes to
extend that line of art criticism to “historical
painting”. Stephens's focus recalls the thinking of DGR,
who was relatively uninterested in landscape painting. Also, his
argument about the decline of European art from the examples set in the
early Italian Renaissance is distinctly Pre-Raphaelite, just as his
plea for a return to Nature is inspired by Ruskin's
work.
Stephens (1828-1907) was art editor for the Athenaeum for forty years. In that position he was
a powerful force for promoting the work of the Pre-Raphaelites, and of
DGR in particular. Stephens regularly submitted his copy to DGR before
having it published, so that his commentaries have a quasi-authorized
status.
This collection contains 2 texts and images, including:
Germ text
Scholarly Commentary
Introduction
According to WMR, this essay by Stephens was originally titled “The Revival of the Feeling in Early Art” when it was read to him and DGR in December 1849 (see Fredeman, The P.R.B. Journal, 31). The essay is a good statement of Pre-Raphaelite ideas about trecento and quattrocento Italian art, and in particular about DGR's views (see especially the second paragraph). Moving from a Ruskinian statement about “Nature” in landscape painting, Stephens proposes to extend that line of art criticism to “historical painting”. Stephens's focus recalls the thinking of DGR, who was relatively uninterested in landscape painting. Also, his argument about the decline of European art from the examples set in the early Italian Renaissance is distinctly Pre-Raphaelite, just as his plea for a return to Nature is inspired by Ruskin's work.
Stephens (1828-1907) was art editor for the Athenaeum for forty years. In that position he was a powerful force for promoting the work of the Pre-Raphaelites, and of DGR in particular. Stephens regularly submitted his copy to DGR before having it published, so that his commentaries have a quasi-authorized status.
Printing History
It was printed in The Germ no. 2, pages 58-64.