Gardner, Percy: The principles of Greek art (London, 1924)

CHAPTER II

ancient critics on art

Greek writers have left us some useful criticisms on the
works of their own sculptors and painters. Compared with the
modern mind that of the Greeks was uncritical. They were
less fond of analysis, and their art work was less consciously
directed by purpose. The best ancient criticism comes at a
time when the spontaneity of art was past, in the days of Pasit-
eles and of Lucian. Yet it "cannot be indifferent to us to learn
what views such masters of thought as Plato and Aristotle
held in regard to the sculptors and painters who in their day
were filling the stoas and temples with works of imperishable
beauty.

The most interesting passage in ancient literature on this
subject is to be found in the memoirs of Socrates by Xenophon.1
Socrates had in his youth worked as a sculptor in the shop of
his father, Sophroniscus. In later times a group of the Graces
from his hand was shown to visitors on the Acropolis of Athens.
And the narrative of Xenophon, being less imaginative than
the immortal works of Plato, is not unlikely to record cor-
rectly his views about art. I will begin with a translation of
the whole passage: —

Sometimes, when Socrates discoursed with those who were
devoted to the arts and used them for practical purposes, he
was of use to them. Once when he visited Parrhasius the
painter, and talked with him he said:1 " Parrhasius, is not

1 Memorabilia, iii., 10.
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