Dilettanti – The Antic and the Antique in Eighteenth–Century England

With elegance and wit, this volume recreates the vibrant culture of connoisseurship in Enlightenment England by investigating the multifaceted activities and achievements of the Society of Dilettanti - a group founded in 1732 devoted to the study, and support of those studying, Greco-Roman antiquity."Dilettanti" is a superbly illustrated volume that examines its members, and their expeditions, collections, and publications - which laid the groundwork for the Neo-Classical revival. It also shows how they were able to successfully combine the didactic - detailed investigations into technique, condition, restoration and provenance - with the ability to bring illustrations of ancient sculpture to new artistic heights.