Hanging the Head

Know about the book -

Hanging the Head is written by Marcia Pointon and published by Paul Mellon Ctr for Studies. It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 0300073682 (ISBN 10) and 9780300073683 (ISBN 13).

This handsomely illustrated book discusses portraiture as a cultural and political phenomenon in eighteenth-century England. Marcia Pointon offers detailed historical analyses of portraits by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Hogarth, and others, showing how portraiture of the period provided mechanisms for constructing and accessing a national past and for controlling a present that appeared increasingly unruly."A lively and inventive book, offering an unusual perspective on familiar works. The illustrations are magnificent and Pointon provides fascinating information". -- David Nokes, The Spectator"Impressive ... comprises a fascinating historical analysis and methodological sophistication which maps new ground in the study of portraiture and provides an excellent model for future generations of researchers". -- Shearer West, Times Literary Supplement"Original and perceptive.... The measure of the importance of this thought-provoking volume is its fresh approach, choosing revealing areas of enquiry to probe eighteenth-century attitudes of mind". -- John Hayes, Art Newspaper