DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68796#0197
CHAPTER III
THE WORK OF ART AS BEAUTIFUL
§ 114. The elements of Beauty ; the Whole and the
Parts.
In the present chapter, the more purely formal side of the
aesthetic effect of works of art will form the subject for con-
sideration, ' but it must all along be remembered that the
distinction between the significant quality and the more
purely beautiful quality, is not an absolute one. Forms,
colours, tones, though composed for an effect directly pleas-
ing to the eye, carry with them as we have seen sundry
associations, sundry hints of natural symbolism, which
necessarily mingle with, and form part of, the total impres-
sion. It is possible, however, to discuss composition with-
out much reference to these ulterior considerations, and
these last will accordingly in this chapter be kept in the
background.
Composition involves the relation of the parts in an
artistic unity to each other, and to the whole. If this rela-
tion is pleasing then the artistic unity is beautiful. As has
been already explained, the formal discussion of the Beautiful
from the point of view of aesthetic science forms no part of
our theme. It may be noticed however here, that accord-
ing to a common account of beauty the effect of it resides
THE WORK OF ART AS BEAUTIFUL
§ 114. The elements of Beauty ; the Whole and the
Parts.
In the present chapter, the more purely formal side of the
aesthetic effect of works of art will form the subject for con-
sideration, ' but it must all along be remembered that the
distinction between the significant quality and the more
purely beautiful quality, is not an absolute one. Forms,
colours, tones, though composed for an effect directly pleas-
ing to the eye, carry with them as we have seen sundry
associations, sundry hints of natural symbolism, which
necessarily mingle with, and form part of, the total impres-
sion. It is possible, however, to discuss composition with-
out much reference to these ulterior considerations, and
these last will accordingly in this chapter be kept in the
background.
Composition involves the relation of the parts in an
artistic unity to each other, and to the whole. If this rela-
tion is pleasing then the artistic unity is beautiful. As has
been already explained, the formal discussion of the Beautiful
from the point of view of aesthetic science forms no part of
our theme. It may be noticed however here, that accord-
ing to a common account of beauty the effect of it resides