Beauty is the adjustment of all parts proportionately so that one cannot add or subtract or change without impairing the harmony of the whole.
Leon Battista AlbertiRead
Painting contains a divine force which... makes the dead seem almost alive.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Painting can evoke deep emotions and bring life to inanimate subjects.
This quote by Leon Battista Alberti highlights the transformative power of painting, suggesting that art has the ability to imbue lifeless subjects with a sense of vitality and presence. The 'divine force' he refers to symbolizes the artist's skill and inspiration, which allow viewers to perceive art as not merely a representation, but as something that resonates with the essence of life itself.
Themes
ArtPaintingLifeDivineEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the impact of art in society, this quote emphasizes the emotional response that art can evoke.
More from Leon Battista Alberti
All quotes βI certainly consider a great appreciation of painting to be the best indication of a most perfect mind.
Leon Battista AlbertiRead
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Elia KazanRead