This book collects the influential lectures on art and aesthetics delivered by John Flaxman, a prominent British sculptor of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In his talks, Flaxman explores the principles of design that underlie all great works of art, and offers detailed analyses of specific sculptures by famous artists like Michelangelo and Bernini. His insights into the creative process and the nature of beauty continue to inspire artists and scholars today. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.