Antiquaries in the Age of Romanticism, 1789-1851
The thesis concentrates on the work of fourteen antiquaries active in the period from the French Revolution to the Great Exhibition in England, Scotland and France. I have used a combination of the antiquariesâ published works, which cover, among other subjects, architecture, topography, costume history, Shakespeare and the history of furniture, alongside their private papers to develop an account of that lived engagement with the past which characterised the romantic period. It ends with the growing professionalisation and specialisation of historical studies in the mid-nineteenth century which left little room for the self-generating, essentially romantic antiquarian enterprise. In so far as this subject has been considered at all it has been in the context of what has come to be called âthe invention of traditionâ. It is true that the romantic engagement with history as narrative led to some elaboration of the facts, while the newness of the enterprise laid it open to mistakes. I have not ignored this. The restoration of the Bayeux Tapestry, the forged tartans of the Sobieski Stuarts and the creation of Shakespeareâs Birthplace are all considered. Overall, however, I have been concerned not to debunk
Hill, Rosemary
History
Antiquaries in the Age of Romanticism, 1789-1851. The thesis concentrates on the work of fourteen antiquaries active in the period from the French Revolution to the Great Exhibition in England, Scotland and France. I have used a combination of the antiquariesâ published works, which cover, among other subjects, architecture, topography, costume history, Shakespeare and the history of furniture, alongside their private papers to develop an account of that lived engagement with the past which characterised the romantic period. It ends with the growing professionalisation and specialisation of historical studies in the mid-nineteenth century which left little room for the self-generating, essentially romantic antiquarian enterprise. In so far as this subject has been considered at all it has been in the context of what has come to be called âthe invention of traditionâ. It is true that the romantic engagement with history as narrative led to some elaboration of the facts, while the newness of the enterprise laid it open to mistakes. I have not ignored this. The restoration of the Bayeux Tapestry, the forged tartans of the Sobieski Stuarts and the creation of Shakespeareâs Birthplace are all considered. Overall, however, I have been concerned not to debunk
age romanticism concentrate work fourteen antiquary active period french revolution great exhibition england scotland france use_combination antiquary publish_work cover among subject architecture topography costume history shakespeare history furniture alongside private_paper develop_account live engagement past characterise romantic period end grow professionalisation specialisation historical_study leave_little room self generating essentially romantic antiquarian enterprise far subject consider context come call invention tradition true romantic engagement history narrative lead elaboration fact enterprise lay open mistake ignore this restoration tapestry forge creation shakespeare consider overall however concerned