Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages

Topic: Medieval aesthetics

Question: Was there a theory of aesthetics in the Middle Ages, and what was it?

Thesis: Medieval people did have a theory of aesthetics, which is so different from ours that many modern scholars haven't been able to see it. This theory can tell us a lot about the medieval world, and help us understand modern aesthetics better.

Argument: Traces the development of medieval theories of aesthetics as expressed by philosophers throughout the Middle Ages. Philosophy didn't quite keep up with what was actually happening. All in all, medieval aesthetics were concerned with the didactic and formal aspects of art, and only late in the Middle Ages did philosophy catch up with the ideas of artistic inspiration and the power show more of the artist that were already present in poetry and beginning to be seen in visual art. Medieval aesthetics were very different from modern aesthetics, but that doesn't mean that we should discount them: just because we don't think allegory is beautiful doesn't mean that we should think any less of them because they did find allegory beautiful. Medievals valued intellectual achievements over material ones, so artist themselves weren't particularly valued in the Middle Ages. They saw external beauty as a reflection of internal beauty, and ultimately saw art as a reflection of God's goodness.

Evidence: primarily philosophical writing, with some references to medieval works of art

Bias/Stance: surprisingly Annalist - looking at the long duree and the history of a mentalitee; taking the Middle Ages on its own terms instead of judging the Middle Ages by modern standards

Critique: any time a book this short covers a period so long, there are going to be quibbles

State of the Question: This must have been a turning point, and Eco's approach is very sensitive for the time. It is still considered a classic, and must be a big influence on people like Camille.

Personal reaction: I'm really not a philosopher, so a lot of the philosophical intricacies were lost on me. Still, very readable and very enjoyable and enlightening. show less

art, history, medieval

2/26/22

vorzügliche Quellenangaben

Světoznámý autor Jména růže je i autorem filosofických a umělecko-historických esejů. Umění a krása ve středověké estetice patří k nejzdařilejším a nejinspirativnějším z nich. Eco v něm výstižně zachytil dějiny středověké estetiky, teologického i lidového vnímání nástěnných a deskových obrazů, hudby i architektury s důrazem na alegorický obsah a transcendentální dosah středověkého umění, jež nelze bez znalostí dobových estetických představ nikdy pochopit.

"Arte y belleza en la estética medieval" de Umberto Eco, un libro sumamente interesante si partimos de la idea (errónea) preconcebida de que en la Edad Media no pasó nada, fue una época oscura, todo (actividades, conocimientos, etc.) giraba alrededor de la religión. Pero, siguiendo a Eco, en la Edad Media, hubieron diferentes formas de entender arte, belleza, apreciación de obra artística, arte y moral, que va desde San Agustín a Santo Tomás pasando por Duns Escoto, Guillermo de Occam, Boecio, Grosseteste.