Les arts dans l’Histoire générale des voyages de l’abbé Prévost : Un nouveau regard sur l’autre ?

Abstract

This article focuses on how the art of the other is perceived in Histoire générale des voyages, an ambitious collection by Abbé Prévost, which brings together numerous tales of travel published up to the 18th century on Africa, America and Asia. Despite a small amount of attention paid to the arts, there are several comments to be found here, through anecdotes or in comparative passages. In a stylistically skilful manner and through consulting sources, Prévost takes a “neutral” stance on the artistic ability of faraway peoples and invites readers to temper their own presuppositions.

Keywords

• music
• Native American languages
• Prévost (abbé)
• Africa
• North America