The God behind the Marble: The Fate of Art in the German Aesthetic State

German philosophers at the turn of the nineteenth century believed that art could transform society and stimulate moral autonomy. However, during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, art was destroyed, looted, and questioned about cultural property, leading to doubts about how art could deliver liberation. Alice Goff examines a variety of works, including forty porphyry columns from Charlemagne's tomb, the Quadriga from the Brandenburg Gate, the Laocoön group from Rome, a medieval bronze reliquary from Goslar, a Last Judgment from Danzig, and the mummified body of an official from Sinzig, to explore these issues.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2024
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

German philosophers of the 19th century believed that art was a powerful tool for transforming society. They saw it as a means of promoting moral autonomy and fostering progress. However, their ideals were challenged during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, as art collections were destroyed, looted, and debated over cultural property. As artworks became victims of the violence they were meant to transcend, some began to question whether art could truly deliver liberation or if it could also be used as a spoils of war.

Alice Goff explores a range of works, including forty porphyry columns from Charlemagne's tomb, the Quadriga from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Laocoön group from Rome, a medieval bronze reliquary from Goslar, a Last Judgment from Danzig, and the mummified body of an official from the Rhenish hamlet of Sinzig. These works were the subject of conflicts over ownership, interpretation, conservation, and exhibition during the Napoleonic period and its aftermath.

Goff examines the ways in which these works were perceived and interpreted by different individuals and groups. She explores the political and cultural contexts in which they were created and the ways in which they were used to promote or undermine specific ideologies. She also considers the ethical and philosophical questions that arise when art is subjected to the forces of war and violence.

Through her analysis, Goff demonstrates how art can be both a source of liberation and a tool of oppression. She shows how it can be used to promote cultural heritage and identity, but also how it can be appropriated and exploited for political purposes. She highlights the complex and often conflicting relationships between art, power, and society, and the ways in which these relationships are shaped by historical and cultural contexts.

In conclusion, Goff's book provides a valuable insight into the history of German attempts to transform society through art in an age of revolution. It demonstrates the power of art to inspire and challenge, to promote and undermine, and to shape the political and cultural landscape of a society. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, history, and politics.

Weight: 822g
Dimension: 162 x 236 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226827100