Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Thematic approach to categorising paintings
French Royal Academy 1648

highest: historical painting for its moral purpose and the demands it made on the artist both in imagination and intellect.
lowest:still life, which was seen as imitation of reality observed by any.


Nicolas Poussin, 'et in arcadia ego', 1637-8

Genres are not so clear-cut; allegory can appear even in still life painting, raising its moral value.

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