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CHAPTER II.

Climatic Influences on Genius.

Influence of great centres—Race and hot climates—The distribution of great masters—Orographic influences—Influence of healthy race—Parallelism of high stature and genius—Explanations.

 

Buckle thought that most artists, unlike men of science, were produced in volcanic countries.^[1] Jacoby, in an excellent monograph,^[2] finds the greatest number of superior intelligences where the urban population is densest. It seems impossible to deny that race (the Latin and Greek races, for example, abound in great men), political and scientific struggles, wealth, literary centres have a great influence on the appearance of men of genius. Who would maintain that the political struggles and great liberty of Athens, Siena, and Florence have not contributed to produce in ancient times a more powerful display of genius than at other epochs and in other countries?

But when we recall the preponderating influence of meteorological phenomena on works of genius it becomes clear that a still more important place must be reserved for atmospheric and climatic conditions.

The Influence of Great Centres, of Race, and of Hot Climates.—It is worth while to study the distribution of great artists in Europe, and especially in Italy.

For musicians I have used the works of Fétis^[3] and Clément^[4]; for painters and sculptors I have referred to Ticozzi's two dictionaries.^[5] Here are the results:—

1. History of Civilisation, i.
2. Études sur la Selection, &c., Paris, 1881.
3. Biographie Universelle des Musiciens, Paris, 1868–80.
4. Histoire des Musiciens Célèbres, Paris, 1878.
5. Dizionario dei Pittori, 1858.