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art appreciation ping
An even better book! Even his poetry was magnificent. Stone had a lesser "genius" by far to idealize in Lust--not nearly as good a read.
I've often wondered if there was an appreciation for art here at Fr.
I love modern art and modern design.
Excellent movie! Great book! Especially for those of us who admire Michelangelo. Consider the impact his artwork had last month when 115 Cardinals swore an oath before this painting of the Last Judgement.
As one cardinal noted ...
"Arriving in the Sistine Chapel and taking the oath was "overwhelming," he said.
Cardinal Carles continued: "And not just on the first day, when entering the conclave, which was seen on television. Every morning and afternoon, with our vote in hand, when going up to the altar, and seeing the Christ of the Last Judgment surrounded by the Sistine Chapel ... we said the formula: 'I swear before this Christ, who will judge me!'
"When one is there, there is no place for 'lobbies,' or pressure groups, or the likes, or any of that!"
Paul Johnson's "Art" is a history of Western art, and is so readable and fun. It's huge, covers every period -- oil paintings, architecture, etc. And none on the 'modern' splatter art, thank goodness. Just a book you'll treasure for the pure pleasure of it.
If you enjoy reading about art and culture in different parts of the world over the centuries, and how they've influenced each other, try "Creative Destruction" by Tyler Cowen. Especially interesting to me were the sections on Caribbean art and music.
Strands Books in Manhattan has a whole floor of used art books. Anyone who is an art afficionado will go bananas in there *lol*
There's a great course entitled "From Monet to Van Gogh: A History of Impressionism" offered by the Teaching Company. It's 24 half-hour lectures on DVD by Richard Brettell who teaches at the U. of Dallas and used to be the Impressionism Curator at the Art Institute of Chicago. It's an outstanding introduction to the subject by a gifted teacher. My wife and I are watching it for the second time.
The Renaissance artists could really draw. Da Vinci and Michelangelo both drew beautifully. There are lots of "painters" around today who can't draw well at all. That's why they have to resort to splashing paint around on canvas.
"In the normal course of events many men and women are born with various remarkable qualities and talents; but occasionally, in a way that transcends nature, a single person is marvelously endowed by heaven with beauty, grace and talent in such abundance that he leaves other men far behind, all his actions seem inspired, and indeed everything he does clearly comes from God rather than from human art. Everyone acknowledged that this was true of Leonardo da Vinci, an artist of outstanding physical beauty who displayed infinite grace in everything he did and who cultivated his genius so brilliantly that all problems he studied he solved with ease. He possessed great strength and dexterity; he was a man of regal spirit and tremendous breadth of mind. [...] This marvelous and divinely inspired Leonardo was.[...] so favored by nature that to whatever he turned his mind or thoughts the results were always inspired and perfect; and his lively and delightful works were incomparably graceful and realistic. " - link (Penguin translation)