The Appearance of Character
Physiognomy - the notion that there is a relationship between character and physical appearance - is often dismissed as a marginal pseudoscience; however, The Appearance of Character argues that it is central to many disciplines and thought processes, and that it constantly adapts itself to current...
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| Fformat: | Online |
| Iaith: | Saesneg |
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Modern Humanities Research Association
2025
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| Mynediad Ar-lein: | ONIX_20251014T154955_9781839546853_8 |
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Dim Tagiau, Byddwch y cyntaf i dagio'r cofnod hwn!
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| _version_ | 1869521785110659072 |
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| author | Percival, Melissa |
| author_browse | Percival, Melissa |
| author_facet | Percival, Melissa |
| author_sort | Percival, Melissa |
| collection | Directory of Open Access Books |
| description | Physiognomy - the notion that there is a relationship between character and physical appearance - is often dismissed as a marginal pseudoscience; however, The Appearance of Character argues that it is central to many disciplines and thought processes, and that it constantly adapts itself to current patterns of thought and modes of discourse. This interdisciplinary study determines the characteristics of physiognomical thought in France during the previously neglected period leading up to the reception of Johann Caspar Lavater’s physiognomy in the early 1780s. It establishes a corpus of physiognomical texts, juxtaposing ‘mainstream’ figures such as Buffon and Diderot with a host of minor writers. It then considers the representation of the passions in art, examining the legacy of Charles LeBrun, and revealing an aesthetics of facial representation where the passions are conceived in terms of multiplicity, speed, and nuance. The contribution of the Comte de Caylus to the development of the ‘tête d’expression’ is analysed, as well as the innovations of Greuze in the field of expression. Physiognomy in portraiture is also addressed through the work of La Tour. Facial expression in painting is found to have strong parallels with contemporary acting theory and stage practice. Finally, The Appearance of Character addresses the notion of character, outlining various predominant theories, and analysing the complex relationship between character and passions. In this respect, the study has ramifications for theories of the self and individualism in the Enlightenment and beyond. |
| format | Online |
| id | doab-20.500.12854ir-167044 |
| institution | Directory of Open Access Books |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Modern Humanities Research Association |
| publisherStr | Modern Humanities Research Association |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | doab-20.500.12854ir-1670442025-10-16T12:08:44Z The Appearance of Character Percival, Melissa physiognomy Johann Caspar Lavater history of ideas the self individualism thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology::NH History::NHD European history thema EDItEUR::1 Place qualifiers::1D Europe::1DD Western Europe::1DDF France thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day::3ML 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799 Physiognomy - the notion that there is a relationship between character and physical appearance - is often dismissed as a marginal pseudoscience; however, The Appearance of Character argues that it is central to many disciplines and thought processes, and that it constantly adapts itself to current patterns of thought and modes of discourse. This interdisciplinary study determines the characteristics of physiognomical thought in France during the previously neglected period leading up to the reception of Johann Caspar Lavater’s physiognomy in the early 1780s. It establishes a corpus of physiognomical texts, juxtaposing ‘mainstream’ figures such as Buffon and Diderot with a host of minor writers. It then considers the representation of the passions in art, examining the legacy of Charles LeBrun, and revealing an aesthetics of facial representation where the passions are conceived in terms of multiplicity, speed, and nuance. The contribution of the Comte de Caylus to the development of the ‘tête d’expression’ is analysed, as well as the innovations of Greuze in the field of expression. Physiognomy in portraiture is also addressed through the work of La Tour. Facial expression in painting is found to have strong parallels with contemporary acting theory and stage practice. Finally, The Appearance of Character addresses the notion of character, outlining various predominant theories, and analysing the complex relationship between character and passions. In this respect, the study has ramifications for theories of the self and individualism in the Enlightenment and beyond. 2025-10-16T12:08:43Z 2025-10-16T12:08:43Z 2025-10-14T13:52:54Z 1999 book ONIX_20251014T154955_9781839546853_8 0957-0322 https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/106493 9781839546853 1902653076 https://admin.directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/167044 eng MHRA Texts and Dissertations open access image/jpeg Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/106493/1/9781839546853.pdf Modern Humanities Research Association Texts and Translations 10.59860/td.b15f61a 10.59860/td.b15f61a 263272ae-2045-451b-ac91-b0037a2fd63a 9781839546853 1902653076 Texts and Translations 245 Cambridge open access |
| spellingShingle | physiognomy Johann Caspar Lavater history of ideas the self individualism thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology::NH History::NHD European history thema EDItEUR::1 Place qualifiers::1D Europe::1DD Western Europe::1DDF France thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day::3ML 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799 Percival, Melissa The Appearance of Character |
| title | The Appearance of Character |
| title_full | The Appearance of Character |
| title_fullStr | The Appearance of Character |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Appearance of Character |
| title_short | The Appearance of Character |
| title_sort | appearance of character |
| topic | physiognomy Johann Caspar Lavater history of ideas the self individualism thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology::NH History::NHD European history thema EDItEUR::1 Place qualifiers::1D Europe::1DD Western Europe::1DDF France thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day::3ML 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799 |
| topic_facet | physiognomy Johann Caspar Lavater history of ideas the self individualism thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology::NH History::NHD European history thema EDItEUR::1 Place qualifiers::1D Europe::1DD Western Europe::1DDF France thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day::3ML 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799 |
| url | ONIX_20251014T154955_9781839546853_8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT percivalmelissa theappearanceofcharacter AT percivalmelissa appearanceofcharacter |