HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages

by Umberto Eco

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
865624,758 (4.04)3
In this authoritative, lively book, the celebrated Italian novelist and philosopher Umberto Eco presents a learned summary of medieval aesthetic ideas. Juxtaposing theology and science, poetry and mysticism, Eco explores the relationship that existed between the aesthetic theories and the artistic experience and practice of medieval culture. -- Publisher's website.… (more)
None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 3 mentions

English (4)  Slovak (1)  Spanish (1)  All languages (6)
Showing 4 of 4
2/26/22
  laplantelibrary | Feb 26, 2022 |
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 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. ( )
4 vote Gwendydd | Feb 18, 2011 |
vorzügliche Quellenangaben ( )
  moricsala | Feb 22, 2007 |
art, history, medieval
  katwest | Aug 16, 2008 |
Showing 4 of 4
no reviews | add a review
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
1.  Most of the aesthetic issues that were discussed in the Middle Ages were inherited from Classical Antiquity.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Information from the Slovak Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

In this authoritative, lively book, the celebrated Italian novelist and philosopher Umberto Eco presents a learned summary of medieval aesthetic ideas. Juxtaposing theology and science, poetry and mysticism, Eco explores the relationship that existed between the aesthetic theories and the artistic experience and practice of medieval culture. -- Publisher's website.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.04)
0.5
1 1
1.5
2 2
2.5 1
3 11
3.5 3
4 16
4.5
5 23

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,242,050 books! | Top bar: Always visible