Enlightened Animals in Eighteenth-Century Art: Sensation, Matter, and Knowledge

The book explores how painters, sculptors, porcelain modelers, and other decorative designers portrayed animals as sensing subjects who physically confirmed the value of material experience in the eighteenth century. The Rococo style encouraged the proliferation of animals as exemplars of empirical inquiry, validating the material basis of artistic practice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The exploration of the intricate relationship between our senses and our understanding of the world has been a central theme in the philosophical and artistic realms throughout history. In the eighteenth century, this inquiry took on a particularly vibrant dimension as artists sought to depict animals not as mere objects but as active participants in the sensory realm. This book delves into the fascinating ways in which painters, sculptors, porcelain modelers, and other decorative designers portrayed animals as sensing subjects who physically confirmed the value of material experience.

At a time when the independent agency of animals and their right to free existence were emerging as urgent topics of concern, the Rococo artistic style emerged as a catalyst for the proliferation of animals as exemplars of empirical inquiry. Artists embraced the sensual and intricate details of the natural world, creating lifelike representations of animals that captured their essence and behavior. From the popular subject of the monkey artist to the alchemical wonders of life-sized porcelain animals created for the Saxon court, animals became a source of fascination and wonder.

In examining writings on sensory knowledge by philosophers such as La Mettre, Condillac, Diderot, and others alongside depictions of the animal in art, Cohen argues that artists promoted the animal as a sensory, thinking subject while also validating the material basis of their own professional practice. The Rococo style, with its emphasis on elegance, grace, and naturalism, provided a perfect platform for artists to explore the complexities of animal perception and cognition. Through their works, they sought to convey the sensory richness and emotional depth of animals, challenging traditional notions of their nature and revealing the profound interconnectedness of all living beings.

In conclusion, this book offers a captivating exploration of the ways in which our senses help us to understand the world. Through the lens of eighteenth-century art, it reveals the profound connection between animals and the sensory realm, highlighting the role of art in shaping our understanding of nature and the natural world. By examining the works of artists and philosophers alike, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of animal perception, cognition, and the role of art in capturing the essence of the animal experience.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350203624