Concetti Chiave
- The Late Victorian Period (1870-1901) is marked by a loss of values, crisis, and disillusion following Queen Victoria's death.
- Scientific discoveries from the Great Exhibition in 1851 caused instability, halting further advancements during this era.
- The Aesthetic movement, symbolized by "Art for Art's sake," reflects artists' frustration and uncertainty, with Oscar Wilde as a key figure.
- This movement emphasizes "Art as the cult of Beauty," separating beauty from morality and opposing Utilitarianism.
- The dandy, epitomized by Oscar Wilde, is someone who makes life a work of art, valuing pleasure, beauty, and elegance.
The late victorian period
The Late Victorian Period is set from 1870 to 1901, the year of Queen Victoria’s death. This period is characterized by a loss of values and a general sense of crisis and disillusion. The scientific discoveries shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851 stopped although they had already generate a deep instability in people’s minds. What is more, the Aesthetic movement becomes widespread because it reflects the frustration and uncertainty of the artist. This movement is synthesized in the famous motto “Art for Art’s sake”. One of the major exponents of this period is Oscar Wilde.
It is a moral and aesthetic imperative. This movement believed that only “Art as the cult of Beauty” could prevent the murder of the soul. But Beauty has nothing to do with morality; there is no message to convey, the writer doesn’t want to communicate anything. Art is pretty useless, it goes against Utilitarianism.
What is the concept of the dandy?
The dandy is a person who lives on Beauty and makes his life a work of art. He is a bourgeois artist who, in spite of his uneasiness, remains a member of his class. He is often rejected by people who judge him weird because of his ambiguity. The Wildean dandy is an aristocrat whose elegance is a symbol of the superiority of the spirit. Since life was meant for pleasure, and pleasure was an indulgence in beauty, beautiful clothes and talks, delicious food and handsome boys became the main interests of Oscar Wilde who is a typical example of a dandy.
Domande da interrogazione
- What characterized the Late Victorian Period and how did it influence the arts?
The Late Victorian Period, spanning from 1870 to 1901, was marked by a loss of values and a general sense of crisis and disillusionment. This era saw the rise of the Aesthetic movement, which embraced the motto "Art for Art's sake," reflecting the frustration and uncertainty of artists. The movement emphasized beauty over morality, opposing Utilitarianism, and was notably represented by figures like Oscar Wilde.
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