Until the early Renaissance, artists were treated as a trade. Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo were all considered skilled artisans in stone and bronze metalworking. However, they wanted to elevate the status of artists to a profession. To this end, the first Art Academy in Florence was founded in 1561. The purpose of the Art Academy was to educate people in the discipline of drawing (disegno).
Art is not a manifestation of beauty or God
The concept of beauty is a fundamental idea in the universe, and it is the basic idea of all creation, including art. Art is the act of lifting itself up to the height of this idea. Art is not a handicraft, but rather a communication of the feeling that an artist has experienced. It transmits the truths that are common to everyone from perception to emotion.
The origin of art can be traced to the time when someone expresses their emotion outside. As an example, Tolstoy used a puzzle-map metaphor to explain the meaning of “resist him who is evil.” In this way, he understood the meaning of Jesus’ teachings.
It is a means of union among men
The Christian concept of art is that it unites man with God. It inspires a feeling of brotherhood, sonship and respect for fellow man. This feeling can be expressed in the most humble and simple ways. And if art can unite men, it can surely unify the world.
This concept is fundamentally important to understanding the true nature of art. It focuses on man’s capacity to experience other man’s feelings and to receive these feelings. In art, the receiver enters into a relationship with the artist and with other men who receive the same artistic impression.
Art aims at the highest level to bring men together and express what they feel. It is a means of transmitting human feelings, destroying superstitions and spreading knowledge. The truths of art can unite the people and bring about a better world. If we can achieve that, then we will have reached the ultimate goal of human existence.
It is a means of expressing the element of truth in a culture
According to Martin Heidegger, “Art is the self-expression and the interpretation of a culture,” and “art is a springboard for truth.” According to Heidegger, art produces and represents the shared understanding of a culture. A new work of art can change the meaning of existence.
The relation between the historical and appreciative concepts of art is not accidental or unsystematic, as is often suggested by the comparison between Socrates’ healthiness and his diet. Rather, the relation between the two is intentional and systemic. While a single concept of art has varying facets, a single concept is unambiguous, because it has a core-dependent homonym.
In addition to expressing truth, art can serve as a social symbol. In some instances, art functions as an institution, providing a means for the people to express their feelings. For example, a cultural event like a cocktail party can be seen as an expression of the truth in a society, but it might also be a battle or war.
Philosophers and scientists are concerned with the role of art in a culture. They believe that art can express values that are fundamental to the civilization. Art, like religion, is a reflection of human nature and expresses the element of truth in a culture. While philosophy and religion use mental imagery, art works through a perceptual medium. Click here to read more Articles.
