The Classical Ideal Of Ancient Athens - 1076 Words

Leonardo Di Vinci once said â€Å"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.† Through the great artistic works of many artists we are able to experience and feel an event that they have went through in their lives. Art allows us to express ourselves and also makes us feel better about expressing our feelings. The Classical ideal of ancient Athens pertains to the standard of excellence proposed by the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, beginning in the Golden Age of Greece. The ancient Greeks aspired to perfection in both body and mind, and sought a synthesis of the two poles of passion and reason. Through athletic behavior, they were able to exercise the value of perfection of†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"In the visual arts, humanism stood for (1) The emergence of the individual figure, in place of stereotyped, or symbolic figures. (2) Greater realism and consequent attention to detail, as reflected in the development of linear perspective and the increasing realism of human faces and bodies; this new approach helps to explain why classical sculpture was so revered, and why Byzantine art fell out of fashion. (3) An emphasis on and promotion of virtuous action: an approach echoed by the leading art theorist of the Renaissance Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72) when he declared, happiness cannot be gained without good works and just and righteous deeds. The promotion of virtuous action reflected the growing idea that man, not fate or God, controlled human destiny, and was a key reason why history painting (that is, pictures with uplifting messages ) became regarded as the highest form of painting. Of course, the exploration of virtue in the visual arts also involved an examination of vice and human evil.† â€Å"Italian Renaissance Art.† visual-arts-cork.com n.d. n.p. web. Donatello artistic works of art is very idealistic. Donatello sculpture of Saint Mark introduced classical contrapposto which was portrayed through the naturally flowing drapery and the way how it moves with the body of the sculpture. Another work of art was the young David slaying the beast which was the first nude statue since ancient times. The