Nieznane arcydzieło. "Obrazy Włoch" jako antyprzewodnik

Abstract

Unknown masterpiece. Obrazy Włoch as an anti-guide

One could maintain that Obrazy Włoch Images of Italy, the eminent work by Paweł Muratow, has been perfectly recognized in our country Polish edition: 1972. But it is not true. In popular reception, this legendary book was perceived primarily as a refined guide to Italian culture and art. To be honest, there were few convincing reasons to do that. Hovewer, I argue that regarding this work as the sort of a sophisticated Baedeker is a total misreading. In fact, the two volumes of Obrazy Włoch remind the reader the literary essay filled with historiosophical content, rather than a popular guide for common readers. The work of a great Russian historian of art is based on three elements: sensuality, generalization, and mythologization. For these reasons the aforementioned book cannot be regarded as a naive realistic work a kind of report or reliable “photography” of Italian reality. In the author’s intention this book should function as a kind of spiritual testimony for the coming generations in Europe.