DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9177#0095
V
FORMATION OF ARTISTIC TYPES
75
Some nations have a genius for producing stable political in-
stitutions, some for building monuments destined to last almost
for ever. Some have a turn for conduct, and set its principles
on a permanent basis. Of all peoples the Greeks have been
the most original and many-sided in their activities. In
speculative thought or philosophy, in physical science, in
oratory, in historic writing, they set the world going. But no
development of theirs has been more characteristic and of more
permanent value than their art.
What were the causes of this wonderful blossoming ? Of
course in the main they were of the spirit, and worked from
within. But there were also external circumstances which
made this working easier and more effectual. Something might
be due to the equable and propitious climate of Greece, avoid-
ing the extremes of heat and cold, and favouring a robust and
harmonious physical development. Something might be due
to the mere beauty of the country, its clear-cut mountains, its
abundant fountains and streams, its favourable position in the
ways of commerce and colonization. Certainly much was due
to the physical beauty of the men and women, though the
causes of that beauty cannot be determined. It is certain that
other races have lived under as favourable conditions and not
attained to the same physical perfection. It is better to speak
of influences which can be traced with more certainty, the
habits of the people and the nature of their religion.
No clearer and more definite cause of the excellence of Greek
sculpture is to be found than lies in the athletic habits of the
people. The athletic festivals of Greece were always religious
in character; they were celebrated in the great national sacred
places, and carried out in honour of Zeus or Apollo, Poseidon
or Athena. But I think that in speaking of them as in origin
religious we are transposing cause and effect, and conveying
a false notion to a modern reader. For it was the deep-seated,
largely unconscious conviction of the race that health and
FORMATION OF ARTISTIC TYPES
75
Some nations have a genius for producing stable political in-
stitutions, some for building monuments destined to last almost
for ever. Some have a turn for conduct, and set its principles
on a permanent basis. Of all peoples the Greeks have been
the most original and many-sided in their activities. In
speculative thought or philosophy, in physical science, in
oratory, in historic writing, they set the world going. But no
development of theirs has been more characteristic and of more
permanent value than their art.
What were the causes of this wonderful blossoming ? Of
course in the main they were of the spirit, and worked from
within. But there were also external circumstances which
made this working easier and more effectual. Something might
be due to the equable and propitious climate of Greece, avoid-
ing the extremes of heat and cold, and favouring a robust and
harmonious physical development. Something might be due
to the mere beauty of the country, its clear-cut mountains, its
abundant fountains and streams, its favourable position in the
ways of commerce and colonization. Certainly much was due
to the physical beauty of the men and women, though the
causes of that beauty cannot be determined. It is certain that
other races have lived under as favourable conditions and not
attained to the same physical perfection. It is better to speak
of influences which can be traced with more certainty, the
habits of the people and the nature of their religion.
No clearer and more definite cause of the excellence of Greek
sculpture is to be found than lies in the athletic habits of the
people. The athletic festivals of Greece were always religious
in character; they were celebrated in the great national sacred
places, and carried out in honour of Zeus or Apollo, Poseidon
or Athena. But I think that in speaking of them as in origin
religious we are transposing cause and effect, and conveying
a false notion to a modern reader. For it was the deep-seated,
largely unconscious conviction of the race that health and