For the great eras in the history of the development of…
““For the great eras in the history of the development of all the arts have been eras not of increased feeling or enthusiasm in feeling for art, but of new technical improvements primarily and specially. The discovery of marble quarries in the purple ravines of Pentelicus and on the little low-lying hills of the island of Paros gave to the Greeks the opportunity for that intensified vitality of action, that more sensuous and simple humanism, to which the Egyptian sculptor working laboriously in the hard porphyry and rose-coloured granite of the desert could not attain. The splendour of the Venetian school began with the introduction of the new oil medium for painting. The progress in modern music has been due to the invention of new instruments entirely, and in no way to an increased consciousness on the part of the musician of any wider social aim.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Artistic breakthroughs stem from technical innovations, not just heightened emotion, enabling new forms of expression.
In simple terms: New tools drive artistic change more than feelings.
Key Takeaway
Embrace new techniques to advance creative work.
Themes
art history
technology
creativity
innovation
culture
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- painting
- sculpture
- music composition
- architectural design
Key Concepts
material science
aesthetics
musical development
Questions to Reflect On
- How do tools shape artistic vision?
- Can emotion and technology coexist harmoniously?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on emotion may overlook the importance of technical progress.