--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The art and architecture of the past that…" description: "\"The art and architecture of the past that we know is that which remains. The best is that which remains where it was painted, placed or built. Most of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/donald-judd-14721_aliens_the-art-and-architecture-of-the-past-tha_1817795.jpg" --- # The art and architecture of the past that we know is that… ![“The art and architecture of the past that we know is that which remains. The best is that which remains where it was painted, placed or built. Most of the art of the past that could be moved was taken by conquerors. Almost all recent art is conquered as soon as it's made, since it's first shown…” quote by Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/donald-judd-14721_aliens_the-art-and-architecture-of-the-past-tha_1817795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/donald-judd-14721_aliens_the-art-and-architecture-of-the-past-tha_1817795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/donald-judd-14721_aliens_the-art-and-architecture-of-the-past-tha_1817795.jpg) > “The art and architecture of the past that we know is that which remains. The best is that which remains where it was painted, placed or built. Most of the art of the past that could be moved was taken by conquerors. Almost all recent art is conquered as soon as it's made, since it's first shown for sale and once sold is exhibited as foreign in the alien museums. The public has no idea of art other than that it is something portable that can be bought. There is no constructive effort; there is no cooperative effort. This situation is primitive in relation to a few earlier and better times.” [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art that survives in its original setting holds greater authenticity than relocated works. **In simple terms:** Original context matters for authenticity. Key Takeaway Preserve art where it was created. Themes authenticity preservation context conquest commercialism Mood critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - museum curation - public education - heritage tourism - art market regulation Key Concepts cultural heritage site specificity ownership market forces Questions to Reflect On - How does location affect our perception of art? - Can art survive without commercial value? A Different Perspective Relocating art can protect it from conflict or decay. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Conqueror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conqueror/) [Cooperatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperatives/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Museums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museums/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Great architecture of the past was always clear. SFMOMA is still a simple building to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/great-architecture-of-the-past-was-always-clear-sfmoma-is-still-a/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [Art and architecture -- all the arts -- do not have to exist in isolation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/art-and-architecture-all-the-arts-do-not-have-to-exist-in-isolation/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Does it follow that the house has nothing in common with art and is architecture not to be included in the arts? Only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/does-it-follow-that-the-house-has-nothing-in-common-with-art-and-is/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [“Whenever I listen to an artist or an art historian I'm struck by how much they see and how much they know --and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-knowlton-zinsser/whenever-i-listen-to-an-artist-or-an-art-historian-i-m-struck-by-how/) [William Knowlton Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-knowlton-zinsser/) > [I've always been interested in art, architecture, color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-radziwill/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-art-architecture-color/) [Lee Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-radziwill/) > [I left science, then I went into art, but I approach things very analytically. I choose to pursue both art and architecture as completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-left-science-then-i-went-into-art-but-i-approach-things-very/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [For me, architecture is an art the same as painting is an art or sculpture is an art. Yet, architecture moves a step beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/for-me-architecture-is-an-art-the-same-as-painting-is-an-art-or/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-mother-art-is-architecture-without-an-architecture-of-our-own-we/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“Throughout the Middle Ages, art and architecture had a spiritual mission: to direct man’s attention toward God. Churches soared in that direction, and sculpture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bryant-wilder/throughout-the-middle-ages-art-and-architecture-had-a-spiritual/) Jesse Bryant Wilder > [Of course there is a lot of fluidity now between art, architecture and fashion - a lot more cross-pollination in the disciplines, but this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/of-course-there-is-a-lot-of-fluidity-now-between-art-architecture-and/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [Because of the nature of the profession of architecture, the art of architecture nourishes itself from other disciplines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/because-of-the-nature-of-the-profession-of-architecture-the-art-of/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I grew up in Romania studying art and architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia-soare/i-grew-up-in-romania-studying-art-and-architecture/) [Anastasia Soare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia-soare/) > [I was a child of a single mother/art teacher, and a father who was an architect, so I've always been around the combination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-pearse-connelly/i-was-a-child-of-a-single-mother-art-teacher-and-a-father-who-was-an/) [James Pearse Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-pearse-connelly/) > [As technology advances at an alarming pace, the place of drawing remains as valid as ever in the creation of art and architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/as-technology-advances-at-an-alarming-pace-the-place-of-drawing/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [Vitality is radiated from exceptional art and architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/vitality-is-radiated-from-exceptional-art-and-architecture/) [Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/) ## More by Donald Judd > [But I think you have to - whatever the environment looks like, it does enter into people's art work one way or another; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/but-i-think-you-have-to-whatever-the-environment-looks-like-it-does/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [I pay a lot of attention to how things are done and the whole activity of building something is interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-how-things-are-done-and-the-whole/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [But I think that's a particular kind of experience involving a certain immediacy between you and the canvass, you and the particular kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/but-i-think-that-s-a-particular-kind-of-experience-involving-a/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [The older painting - well, it does have an effect all at once, I suppose, but it's of a lesser intensity than a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/the-older-painting-well-it-does-have-an-effect-all-at-once-i-suppose/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Well, I am not interested in the kind of expression that you have when you paint a painting with brush strokes. It's all right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/well-i-am-not-interested-in-the-kind-of-expression-that-you-have-when/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Well, there's a morality in that you want your work to be good, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/well-there-s-a-morality-in-that-you-want-your-work-to-be-good-i/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [There's probably more in the American tradition than people give the place credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/there-s-probably-more-in-the-american-tradition-than-people-give-the/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Usually when someone says a thing is too simple, they're saying that certain familiar things aren't there, and they're seeing a couple maybe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/usually-when-someone-says-a-thing-is-too-simple-they-re-saying-that/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [I think most of the art now is involved with a denial of any kind of absolute morality, or general morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/i-think-most-of-the-art-now-is-involved-with-a-denial-of-any-kind-of/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Art and architecture -- all the arts -- do not have to exist in isolation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/art-and-architecture-all-the-arts-do-not-have-to-exist-in-isolation/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Color, to continue had to occur in space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/color-to-continue-had-to-occur-in-space/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [I think some of the things I deal with Hopper probably has dealt with also, since it's somewhat the same environment and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/i-think-some-of-the-things-i-deal-with-hopper-probably-has-dealt-with/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [If a chair or a building is not functional … it is ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/if-a-chair-or-a-building-is-not-functional-it-is-ridiculous/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [It isn't necessary for a work to have a lot of things to look at, to compare, to analyze one by one, to contemplate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/it-isn-t-necessary-for-a-work-to-have-a-lot-of-things-to-look-at-to/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [Any combining, mixing, adding, diluting, exploiting, vulgarizing, or popularizing of abstract art deprives art of its essence and depraves the artist's artistic consciousness. Art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/any-combining-mixing-adding-diluting-exploiting-vulgarizing-or/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) [Explore all 45 Donald Judd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) ## More Aliens quotes > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [Ay-firmative,' Eve said, and tried for a smile. 'Sorry. An Aliens reference always makes me feel better at times like this. Exept I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/ay-firmative-eve-said-and-tried-for-a-smile-sorry-an-aliens-reference/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. That goes across all genres: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-fan-of-any-genre-but-am-a-fan-of-movies-that-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The respect for human rights, essential if we are to use technology wisely, is not something alien that must be grafted onto science. 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Apparently, too much bike riding or something similar has rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/some-pundits-have-proposed-that-the-aliens-have-come-here-to-breed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) [Browse all 1,329 Aliens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The art and architecture of the past that we know is that which remains. The best is that which remains where it was painted, placed or built. Most of the art of the past that could be moved was taken by conquerors. Almost all recent art is conquered as soon as it's made, since it's first shown for sale and once sold is exhibited as foreign in the alien museums. The public has no idea of art other than that it is something portable that can be bought. There is no constructive effort; there is no cooperative effort. 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