Josiah Wedgwood and the formation of the neoclassical canon in English art: the 1787 catalogue
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to analyse the role of the 1787 Catalogue of decorative forms in the formation of the aesthetic principles of neoclassicism in English art of the 18th century, as well as to determine the specifics of its interpretation during the Victorian period. The catalogue is considered not only as a production register or marketing publication, but also as an aesthetic manifesto that performs an educational function. The scientific novelty of the paper lies in the fact that for the first time in Russian art studies, the catalogue of 1787 is analysed as a cultural and historical source reflecting the processes of artistic taste formation in 18th-19th century-England. Unlike previous studies, this catalogue is interpreted as a cultural and artistic phenomenon that had a significant impact on the formation of neoclassical aesthetics. Special attention is paid to Victorian reception: in the 19th century, the catalogue was perceived as a symbol of national pride and a collector’s item, demonstrating the continuity and adaptability of the ancient heritage in the context of the aesthetic ideals of Victorian culture. The results obtained make it possible to clarify the understanding of the mechanisms of transformation of antique samples in the English culture of the 18th-19th centuries, to identify the Wedgwood catalogue as an intermediary between the ancient heritage, the culture of the Enlightenment and the reign of Queen Victoria.
Research materials
- Meteyard E. Life of Josiah Wedgwood: in 2 vols. L.: Hurst and Blackett, 1865. Vol. 2.
- Meteyard E. Memorials of Wedgwood: A Selection from His Fine Art Works in Plaques, Medallions, Figures, and Other Ornamental Objects. L.: George Bell & Sons, 1874.
- The Art-journal illustrated catalogue of the industry of all nations, 1851. L.: George Virtue, 1851.
- Wedgwood J. A Catalogue of Cameos, Intaglios, Medals, Bas-reliefs, Busts and Small Statues: With a General Account of Tablets, Vases, Ecritoires: the Whole Formed in Different Kinds of Porcelain and Terra Cotta, Chiefly After the Antique. Etruria, 1787.
- Wedgwood J. The Personal Life of Josiah Wedgwood, the Potter. L.: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1915.
- Wedgwood J. Wedgwood’s catalogue of cameos, intaglios, medals, bas-reliefs, busts, and small statues: reprinted from the edition of 1787: with illustrations / ed. by E. Meteyard, J. Wedgwood. L.: Bell and Daldy, 1873.
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Author information
About this article
Publication history
- Received: September 29, 2025.
- Published: October 30, 2025.
Keywords
- Джозайя Веджвуд
- Каталог декоративных форм 1787 г
- английское Просвещение
- рецепция античности
- искусство викторианской Англии
- Josiah Wedgwood
- 1787 Catalogue of decorative forms
- English Enlightenment
- reception of antiquity
- art of Victorian England
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