The dark side of genius: the melancholic persona in art, ca. 1500-1700

Abstract

"Examines 'melancholia' as a philosophical, medical, and social phenomenon in early modern art. Argues that, despite advances in art and science, the topos of the dispirited intellectual continues to function metaphorically as a locus for society's fears and tensions"--Provided by publisher.

Contents

Introduction : the problem of melancholia -- Saturn's privileged realm : meaning and melancholy -- Privileged piety : religious melancholy -- Privileged passion : love melancholy -- Privileged work : scholarly melancholy -- A privileged profession : artists and melancholy -- Wine, women, and song : melancholy mediated -- Epilogue : melancholia denied and revived -- Appendix : medical dissertations on melancholia and related subjects, ca. 1590/1750.