You certainly have a rude way of joining a conversation, but I appreciate your interest anyway.
As if all of our greatest artists were of a monolithic, uninspired and secular mind.
Didn't imply that at all. I'm just saying that the great rennaisance artists were neo-classicists and Platonists. The Church didn't teach them how to paint. It merely dictated what to paint-to an extent-for every religious theme there was also a "School of Athens" or "Primavera".
Would you mind explaining how the philosophy of Plato has anything whatsoever do with with the works of Rembrandt?
I never brought up Rembrandt, can't say I'm too familiar with him, but I think it highly unlikely that the Church had anything to do with inspiring his most common subject----himself.
***Would you mind explaining how the philosophy of Plato has anything whatsoever do with with the works of Rembrandt?
I never brought up Rembrandt,***
Well, Rembrandt was seeking to answer Plato's question, "What is beauty?"
I agree with that assessment Chuck, buy your cynicism is also rude. For example:
The Church didn't teach them how to paint. It merely dictated what to paint-to an extent-for every religious theme there was also a "School of Athens" or "Primavera".
Who exactly are you referring to? Certainly not Caravaggio, Bellini, Rafael, Tintoretto or even Rembrandt because they don't have a vegetable or greek theme for every Biblical theme. Their secular works are few and far between while their religious works are vast. Probably 8 or 10 to 1 if I was forced to guess.
Caravaggio's greatest works were not done while the Church "dictated what to paint", but while he was on the run being wanted by the Church for murder. Have fun with Rembrandt, but despite any perceived flaws such masterpieces would have been impossible without deep inspiration. He also suffered a great deal throuhout his life. 'The Prodigal Son' was completed just after the last of his four children died, shortly before his own death.
Do you suppose Rafael is buried at the Pantheon because he did as he was told when the Church "dictated what to paint"?
I could go on, but perhaps you could point out these secular based, greek-inspired artists who merely created what the Church instructed.