THE IDEA
4th c. B.C.: Art as the imitation of reality reflects ideas only second hand,
3rd c. B.C.: imitative art leads to understanding,
1st c. B.C.: the idea emerges as the object of artistic representation through form,
A.D. 1st c.: Art is the realm of innovation in techniques of representation,
A.D. 3rd c.: we perceive something as beautiful by comparing the perceived object with our intrinsic idea [of beauty],
A.D. 5th c.: matter derives its inner light from the glow of the idea,
A.D. 12th c.: the components of beauty: completeness, balance, clarity,
A.D. 14th c.: art is a language, form is inseparable from meaning,
A.D. 15th c.: sense experience is imagination’s best sustenance, beauty is nothing but action and liveliness, the reflection of the idea,
A.D. 16th c.: the most perfect form is the fantastic form, expressing as it does the most perfect freedom of the spirit,
A.D. 17th c.: he who undertakes to imitate God through painting human figures is far more excellent than others,
A.D. 18th c.: beauty is infinite variety; whoever believes in only one system has banished universal love from his heart,
A.D. 19th c.: one kind of beauty does not exclude the other; all together are the manifold manifestations of supreme beauty,
A.D. 19th c.: a work of art is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of a whole; works of art are facts and products whose nature and causes must be studied; there’s no need to do anything else.