Table Of Content

A WORLD ART HISTORY AND ITS OBJECTS D AV I D C A R R I E R A World Art History And its objects 00i-170_Carrier.indb 1 10/20/08 3:20:05 PM 00i-170_Carrier.indb 2 10/20/08 3:20:06 PM A World Art History And its objects d A v i d c Ar r i e r tHe PennsylvAniA st Ate University Press University PArk, PennsylvAniA 00i-170_Carrier.indb 3 10/20/08 3:20:06 PM Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Carrier, David, 1944– A world art history and its objects / David Carrier. p. cm. Summary: “Explores the question of how an art history of all cultures could be written or if it is even possible to do so. Examines the political and moral issues raised by the consideration of a multicultural art history”—Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-271-03414-0 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Art—Historiography—Methodology. 2. Art—Historiography—Moral and ethical aspects. 3. Politics and culture. I. Title. N380.C38 2008 707.2’2—dc22 2008015857 Copyright © 2008 The Pennsylvania State University All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Published by The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, PA 16802-1003 The Pennsylvania State University Press is a member of the Association of American University Presses. It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University Press to use acid-free paper. This book is printed on Natures Natural, containing 50% post-consumer waste, and meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Material, ansi z39.48–1992. 00i-170_Carrier.indb 4 10/20/08 3:20:06 PM The man who orders together many occurrences into a plan, into a vision—he is ... the true historical artist, the painter of a great painting of the most excellent composi- tion; he is ... the true creator of a history. —johann gottfried von herder Once the Italians got wind of Arab optics, the whole globe was up for grabs. —richard powers Pour l’enfant, amoureux de cartes et d’estampes, L’univers est égal à son vaste appétit. —charles baudelaire For James Elkins, Jonathan Gilmore, and Michael Ann Holly And in memory of Richard Wollheim (1923–2004) 00i-170_Carrier.indb 5 10/20/08 3:20:06 PM 00i-170_Carrier.indb 6 10/20/08 3:20:06 PM contents List of Figures and Diagrams ix Preface xi Acknowledgments xvii Introduction xxiii Overture: Islamic Carpets in European Paintings 1 1 Works of Art and Art-Historical Narratives 21 2 Monocultural Art-History Narratives 27 3 Why Monoculturalism Is Not the Whole Story 35 4 What Happens When Art-Making Traditions Intersect 47 5 Charts and Works of Art 61 6 The Importance of an Aesthetic 75 7 Exotic Aesthetics 91 8 How Exotic Can Exotic Art Be? 105 9 Our World Art History Is Imperialism Seen Aesthetically 117 10 Mutual Respect as an Ethical Ideal 131 Conclusion: The Coming Transformation of Western Art History 143 Selective Annotated Bibliography 155 Index 167 00i-170_Carrier.indb 7 10/20/08 3:20:07 PM 00i-170_Carrier.indb 8 10/20/08 3:20:07 PM FigUres And diAgrAms figures 1. Jan van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434. National Gallery, London. Photo: Erich Lessing/Art Resource, New York. 2. Hans Holbein, The Ambassadors, 1533. National Gallery, London. Photo: Erich Lessing/Art Resource, New York. 3. Lorenzo Lotto, Madonna with Saints, 1521. S. Spirito, Bergamo. Photo: Erich Lessing/Art Resource, New York. 4. Giovanni Mansueti, Miracle at the Bridge of San Lio, 1494. Accademia, Venice. Photo: Cameraphoto Arte, Venice/Art Resource, New York. 5. Raphael, Madonna della Sedia (with frame), c. 1516. Galleria Palatina, Palazzo Pitti, Florence. Photo: Scala/Art Resource, New York. 6. Gentile Bellini with Giovanni Bellini, Saint Mark Preaching in Alexandria, 1504–7. Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan. Photo: Scala/Art Resource, New York. 7. Rug of war. In The Rugs of War, by Tim Bonyhady and Nigel Lendon (Canberra: Australian National University, 2003), and on the Rugs of War Web site, http:sts-dev.anu.edu.au/rugsofwar. 8. Simon Patterson, The Great Bear, 1992. © Simon Patterson and Transport for London, 1992. 9. Giotto di Bondone, Betrayal of Christ, 1304–6. Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy. Photo: Scala/Art Resource, New York. 10. Rogier van der Weyden, The Crucifixion, with the Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist Mourning, 1460–65. Philadelphia Museum of Art. 11. Titian, The Flaying of Marsyas, 1570–76. Archbishop’s Palace, Kromeriz, Czech Republic. Photo: Erich Lessing/Art Resource, New York. diagrams 1. Time line of Poussin’s career 8. World art history 2. Ernst Gombrich’s Art and Illusion 9. Events of ca. 1450 3. Vasari’s history 10. Elina’s long life 4. Hegel’s history 11. Merging 5. Gombrich’s history 12. Ching’s life 6. Greenberg’s history 13. The style matrix 7. Parallel time lines for art in Europe and China 00i-170_Carrier.indb 9 10/20/08 3:20:07 PM