Most historical figures are accorded a one-way ride down the road from glory. Long-dead figures rarely regain prominence, except perhaps in response to external events, such as the release of a movie about their life. But the most dramatic swings in historical reputation we have encountered occur in the arts, reflecting long-term fluctuations in taste. Authors and their books can rise in response to fresh critical attention, and obscure painters may suddenly find their work back in style.

In this chapter, we will identify the most significant figures in literature and the fine arts. Along the way we will address certain larger-scale questions: In which media do contemporary artists have enough stature to compete with the classical masters? How well do best-seller lists and literary awards identify the significant voices of their times? Have modern architects usurped the role traditionally occupied by sculptors?

Literature

Ranking the world's greatest literary figures is a parlor game of comparable popularity to the ranking of presidents. It provides free rein to express the biases inherent in everyone's worldview. Which is better: classical or contemporary, domestic or international, or prose vs. verses?

The Literary 100 [Burt, 2000] is a representative ranking, which tries to identify “the most influential novelists, playwrights, and poets of all time.” Burt provides an alternate perspective to evaluate our “Literary 50” rankings, presented in Figure 13.1.