DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9177#0034
14
PRINCIPLES OF GREEK ART
CHAP.
the painter's art one which represents things visible, when you
imitate and depict what is concave and convex, what is dark
and light, what is hard and soft, what is rough and smooth,
representing in colour young and old bodies?" "It is true,"
he replied. "And when you represent beautiful bodies, since
it is not easy to find an individual in all respects excellent,
you compare many persons, and putting together what each
out of many has in greatest excellence, so you make bodies
fair to behold?" "That is how we proceed," he answered.
"Come then," he said, "do you also imitate those conditions
of the soul which are most attractive and sweet and humane,
causing most pleasure and desire; or are these not to be imi-
tated?" "How, Socrates, could we imitate that which has
neither symmetry nor colour, nor any of the qualities of which
just now you were speaking; and which in fact is invisible?"
"Yet," he said, "it happens that a man will look at others with
kindness or with hostility." "So I think," he replied. "Are
not these feelings reflected in the eyes?" "Quite so," he
answered. "And in regard to good and evil happening to one's
friends, do you think there is the same expression of face in
those who care and those who care not?". "Certainly not,"
he replied, "men look with delight in the case of good, with
aversion in the case of evil." "Surely," he said, "these things
can be represented." "Certainly," he replied. "Well then,
it is through expression of face, and through the attitudes of
men whether standing or moving, that there shine out such
things as magnificence and manliness as well as what is debased
and slavish, and temperance and wisdom as well as ill-temper
and meanness." "It is true," he answered. "Cannot these
things be imitated ?" "Of course," he replied. " Whether then
do you think it is pleasanter for a man to behold, the expression
of what is fair and good and lovely, or of what is foul and evil
and hateful?" "Certainly there is a great difference, Soc-
rates."
PRINCIPLES OF GREEK ART
CHAP.
the painter's art one which represents things visible, when you
imitate and depict what is concave and convex, what is dark
and light, what is hard and soft, what is rough and smooth,
representing in colour young and old bodies?" "It is true,"
he replied. "And when you represent beautiful bodies, since
it is not easy to find an individual in all respects excellent,
you compare many persons, and putting together what each
out of many has in greatest excellence, so you make bodies
fair to behold?" "That is how we proceed," he answered.
"Come then," he said, "do you also imitate those conditions
of the soul which are most attractive and sweet and humane,
causing most pleasure and desire; or are these not to be imi-
tated?" "How, Socrates, could we imitate that which has
neither symmetry nor colour, nor any of the qualities of which
just now you were speaking; and which in fact is invisible?"
"Yet," he said, "it happens that a man will look at others with
kindness or with hostility." "So I think," he replied. "Are
not these feelings reflected in the eyes?" "Quite so," he
answered. "And in regard to good and evil happening to one's
friends, do you think there is the same expression of face in
those who care and those who care not?". "Certainly not,"
he replied, "men look with delight in the case of good, with
aversion in the case of evil." "Surely," he said, "these things
can be represented." "Certainly," he replied. "Well then,
it is through expression of face, and through the attitudes of
men whether standing or moving, that there shine out such
things as magnificence and manliness as well as what is debased
and slavish, and temperance and wisdom as well as ill-temper
and meanness." "It is true," he answered. "Cannot these
things be imitated ?" "Of course," he replied. " Whether then
do you think it is pleasanter for a man to behold, the expression
of what is fair and good and lovely, or of what is foul and evil
and hateful?" "Certainly there is a great difference, Soc-
rates."