The Life and Writings of Henry Fuseli, Volume 3 (of 3)

"The Life and Writings of Henry Fuseli, Volume 3" by Henry Fuseli is a compilation of insightful art lectures and essays composed in the early 1800s, which explore the history and philosophy behind painting styles of the time. This collection highlights critical reviews of famous artists and their pieces, especially concerning those from Italian art movements. It seeks to explain how artistic styles and rules changed, focusing on masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The book starts with a lecture where Fuseli argues against common ways of discussing art history because it tends to simplify artists' lives without really looking at what they added to art. He spends a good deal of time talking about Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper," looking closely at how it was made and how powerfully it expresses ideas. The lecture underlines that fresh, original ideas are key to moving art forward, and he compares this to artists who didn't go beyond copying others. Through careful looks at how art is shown and shaped, Fuseli sets up a way to think about how visual art grew and where it stands now.