Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's 'Introduction to Hegel's Philosophy of Fine Arts' is a compilation of notes from his university lectures on aesthetics. Hegel's definition of "the beautiful ideal" is developed throughout the lectures, examining the concept of the artistic ideal as it actualizes itself in three stages of art: symbolic, classical, and romantic. The lectures document the development of art from symbolic architecture to romantic painting, music, and poetry. While Hegel does not declare art to be "dead," he frequently speaks of its "dissolution," stating that art no longer counts as the highest mode in which truth procures existence for itself. This work is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of aesthetics and art philosophy.

This work was suggested by Mr. Clements R. Markham's "Memoir on the Indian Surveys," in which the geographical and other kindred operations carried out in India from the date of the British occupation were reviewed in a most picturesque and masterly manner. In 1878 a second edition of Mr. Markham's work was published, in which the narrative was brought up to 1875, and in some cases for a year or so later. For the last fifteen years I have been accumulating notes in moments of leisure, with a view to the publication of a volume which might serve as a continuation to that by Mr. Markham, and the kind support given to the project by the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy has now enabled me to present the work in a more or less complete shape. From unavoidable circumstances the arrangement of matter is not identical with that adopted by Mr. Markham, but I believe I have conformed to it sufficiently to make reference easy, and wherever the source of information is not specially mentioned, it may be assumed that it will be found in the official Annual Report for the particular year.