The Apotheosis of Handel 1787

Editor: This is Biagio Rebecca's "The Apotheosis of Handel". It's a sketch, I believe, and shows Handel being crowned by an angel. What cultural meaning was Rebecca trying to convey? Curator: Well, "apotheosis" suggests deification. This piece participates in the eighteenth-century project of constructing and celebrating national heroes. But, whose voices were amplified in this cultural narrative, and at whose expense? Editor: So, it's not just about Handel's greatness, but about who gets remembered and celebrated? Curator: Precisely. And how power operates through the arts, shaping collective memory and national identity. Think about the role gender and class play in the construction of such figures. Editor: I see. It's made me think about the power dynamics inherent in creating a hero. Curator: Exactly! Art isn't neutral; it's deeply embedded in social and political structures.