FUNCTION OF VISUAL ARTS IN NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S THE MARBLE FAUN
FUNCTION OF VISUAL ARTS IN NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S THE MARBLE FAUN

Summary/Abstract: Hawthorne uses in this novel a specific rhetorical and descriptive technique called ekphrasis, which is a detailed presentation of persons, things or events with all circumstances and under all viewpoints, with a stronger accent put especially on art objects, constructions and monuments. This technique is not very liked in a literature work, but the description of different art objects is not totally out of place, in regarding the function they fulfil. These descriptions contributed to the very success of the novel at that time, as the readers did not see in it an especially good novel or romance. The reason for being so liked was, that it offered a detailed description of Rome and it served as a tourists’ guide through Italy, Rome and especially through art galleries of Rome. It also offered explanations and descriptions of famous works of art, and its main function was to teach a lesson about art and art history

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