Prometheus, artist of the ages : Prometheus' function in ekphrastic contexts in Latin literature and North Italian Renaissance stanzini
This thesis is concerned with how the myths of Prometheus came to function within ekphrastic contexts from Latin literature to Renaissance Italian art. Prometheus had many guises: the trickster that stole fire and triggered the end of the Golden Age, the keeper of a secret, the sculptor of man. Previous scholarship has tended to ignore, in particular, Prometheusâ connection to the Golden Age. After drawing fresh attention to the earliest sources in which this connection was explored, I illustrate how a development in writersâ characterisation of the god helped give rise to the idea of Prometheus as a creator capable of inspiring a new age. Ekphrasis functions as a thematic focus of the thesis. This is because Prometheus and Golden Age motifs frequently appear within or just outside of ekphrases, and because it is my contention that Prometheus, in particular, has an important metapoetic function. I argue that the ekphrastic characteristics of North Italian Renaissance Dukesâ stanzini (study/art galleries) in which Prometheus and Golden Age motifs were often employed may help redefine and clarify ancient literature about Prometheus, most particularly his metapoetic function. That relationship is explored
Dunn, D. F.
Prometheus, artist of the ages : Prometheus' function in ekphrastic contexts in Latin literature and North Italian Renaissance stanzini. This thesis is concerned with how the myths of Prometheus came to function within ekphrastic contexts from Latin literature to Renaissance Italian art. Prometheus had many guises: the trickster that stole fire and triggered the end of the Golden Age, the keeper of a secret, the sculptor of man. Previous scholarship has tended to ignore, in particular, Prometheusâ connection to the Golden Age. After drawing fresh attention to the earliest sources in which this connection was explored, I illustrate how a development in writersâ characterisation of the god helped give rise to the idea of Prometheus as a creator capable of inspiring a new age. Ekphrasis functions as a thematic focus of the thesis. This is because Prometheus and Golden Age motifs frequently appear within or just outside of ekphrases, and because it is my contention that Prometheus, in particular, has an important metapoetic function. I argue that the ekphrastic characteristics of North Italian Renaissance Dukesâ stanzini (study/art galleries) in which Prometheus and Golden Age motifs were often employed may help redefine and clarify ancient literature about Prometheus, most particularly his metapoetic function. That relationship is explored
artist age function context latin literature north italian renaissance concerned myth come function_within context latin literature renaissance italian art many guise fire trigger end golden_age secret sculptor man previous_scholarship tend ignore particular connection golden_age draw fresh attention early source connection explore illustrate development writer characterisation god help give_rise idea creator capable inspire new_age function thematic focus_thesis golden_age motifs frequently appear within_outside contention particular important function argue characteristic north italian renaissance study art_gallery golden_age motifs often_employ may_help redefine clarify ancient literature particularly function relationship explore