Freemasonry and the Visual Arts from the Eighteenth Century Forward: Historical and Global Perspectives

During the 18th century, Freemasonry and art had a close relationship, with art influencing Freemasonry and Freemasonry influencing art. This relationship has only recently been recognized, but vilification and secretive practices have hampered critical study. This volume explores the interconnections between Freemasonry and the visual arts through case studies of artists, collectors, and entrepreneurs, revealing new dimensions of well-known artists and the international scope of the relationships. It sets a standard for serious study and suggests new avenues of investigation in this fascinating emerging field.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The eighteenth century witnessed a remarkable surge in Freemasonry, and art played a pivotal role in its practice, rhetoric, and global dissemination. Conversely, Freemasonry exerted a profound influence on artistic developments. However, this mutually beneficial relationship has only recently begun to receive the attention it deserves. The vilification of Masons and their secretive practices have hindered critical study and interpretation of this intricate connection. As perceptions shift and masonic archives and institutions open to the public, it is an opportune time to reexamine the interrelationships between Freemasonry and the visual arts.

This volume presents a diverse range of approaches and explores the challenges inherent to the subject through a series of eye-opening case studies. These case studies reveal new dimensions of renowned artists such as Francisco de Goya and John Singleton Copley, as well as important collectors and entrepreneurs like Arturo Alfonso Schomburg and Baron Taylor. Individual essays transport readers to various countries within Europe, America, Iran, India, and Haiti, providing a comprehensive examination of the international scope of the relationships between Freemasonry and art and their significance for the history of modern social life, politics, and spiritual practices.

The range of art analyzed in this volume is remarkable, encompassing porcelain, architecture, posters, prints, photography, painting, sculpture, metalwork, and more. These diverse artistic forms offer a clear picture of the global reach of the connections between Freemasonry and art and their profound impact on the history of modern social life, politics, and spiritual practices.

In exploring this topic broadly yet deeply, Freemasonry and the Visual Arts sets a standard for serious study of the subject and suggests new avenues of investigation in this fascinating emerging field. This volume is a valuable contribution to the field of Freemasonry and art studies, and it will undoubtedly inspire further research and exploration into the intricate connections between these two realms.

Weight: 692g
Dimension: 154 x 229 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501366925