Beauty: illustrated chiefly by an analysis and classification of beauty in women / Preceded by a critical view of the general hypotheses respecting beauty, by Hume, Hogarth, Burke, Knight, Alison, etc., and followed by a similar view of the hypotheses of beauty in sculpture and painting by Leonardo da Vinci, Winckelmann, Mengs, Bossi, etc. By Alexander Walker. Illustrated by drawings from life, by Henry Howard.

  • Alexander Walker
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Beauty: illustrated chiefly by an analysis and classification of beauty in women / Preceded by a critical view of the general hypotheses respecting beauty, by Hume, Hogarth, Burke, Knight, Alison, etc., and followed by a similar view of the hypotheses of beauty in sculpture and painting by Leonardo da Vinci, Winckelmann, Mengs, Bossi, etc. By Alexander Walker. Illustrated by drawings from life, by Henry Howard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    those parts of the figure which are more exposed to observation by the closer adaptation of dress,—if, even when the face is seen, the deception as to the degree of beauty is such that a correct estimate of it is perhaps never formed,—if indications as to mind may be derived from many external circum¬ stances,—if external indications as to the personal habits of women are both numerous and interest¬ ing,—if such indications even of age and health are sometimes essential,—if all this be the case, let the reader say what other object of human inquiry exceeds this in importance. Let us not, then, deceive ourselves respecting the bases of those impressions which one sex expe¬ riences from the sight of the other. It is evidently nothing else than the more or less delicate and just perception of a certain conformity of means with a want which has been created by nature, and which must be satisfied. It is very obvious, says Dr. Pritchard, “ that this peculiarity in the constitution of man, must have considerable effects on the physical character of the race, and that it must act as a constant prin¬ ciple of improvement, supplying the place in our own kind of the beneficial control [in the cross¬ ing ol races] which we exercise over the brute creation.” And be adds, “ This is probably the final cause for which the instinctive perception of