The Fine Line Between Art and Pornography

[JohnEmmett]

After Michelangelo’s death, the figures he painted in the Sistine Chapel were covered in drapery

 

[stlukesguild]

This was the Last Judgment. The depiction of Christ and the Virgin Mary naked was considered sacrilegious, while Michelangelo argued that at the Last Judgment all would arise from the dead unclothed. Several high-ranking Church officials argued for the removal or censorship of the fresco (Instagram and Facebook nannies of the time). The Pope resisted, but at the Council of Trent it was decided to cover the genitals. Daniele da Volterra, one of Michelangelo's apprentices was commissioned to make the alterations, which earned him the snide sobriquet, "Daniele the britches maker". All in all, Daniele got off light. When the Greek painter, El Greco suggested that Michelangelo "was a good man, but he did not know how to paint" and went so far as to express disgust with the whole of Michelangelo's Sistine frescos and offer to paint over them with paintings worthy of the Pope's chapel, the Italian artists were so outraged at such comments directed toward the artist they referred to as "El Divino"... especially made by a foreigner... that it has been suggested that death threats rapidly circulated which resulted in El Greco moving to Spain. Ironically, El Greco was profoundly influenced by Michelangelo.

Some of Volterra's alterations were removed during the recent restoration of the fresco, but others were not simply painted on top of Michelangelo's work but rather, involved scraping out areas, re-plastering, and re-painting certain areas, notably the Virgin Mary and Christ... who seen nude would clearly have been recognized as an heir of the Greco-Roman Apollo:

 

[JohnEmmett]

Michelangelo argued that at the Last Judgment all would arise from the dead unclothed.

Ideas are difficult


Art is easily assimilated

 

[Hermes2020]

Is the Renaissance Nude Religious or Erotic?

A related story from the BBC. Yet I have to question whether the writer/editor knows the difference between Religious art and art based on Greco-Roman mythology.

Is there a difference between art based on Greco-Roman mythology and art based on Christian mythology?

 

[stlukesguild]

Well... if you are questioning whether the Renaissance nude is religious or erotic it should be obvious that there is a difference in intent between a painting of a nude Adam & Eve or a nude sinner in a Last Judgment and a nude Venus or Diana in a painting based upon an erotic myth from Greco-Roman literature.

 

[Hermes2020]

Well... if you are questioning whether the Renaissance nude is religious or erotic it should be obvious that there is a difference in intent between a painting of a nude Adam & Eve or a nude sinner in a Last Judgment and a nude Venus or Diana in a painting based upon an erotic myth from Greco-Roman literature.

OK, thanks for that clarification.

 

[stlukesguild]

I always have mixed feelings about the writing in the cultural articles by the BBC.

 

[Desforges]

"Is this porn?" They ask and point to... a reclining nude.

View attachment 4816

Hmmm?

I know better than to say that it is porn,
but,
If someone sat like that in front of me, I’d definitely go for it!

 

[Desforges]

There is no Fine Line between a Sasha Grey video (Porn) and anything you will currently find in a gallery. The above images reminded me of an image on my hard drive.

I know - Pretty gratuitous, what.View attachment 4826

 

[Hermes2020]

I know better than to say that it is porn,
but,
If someone sat like that in front of me, I’d definitely go for it!

Ha, you bet! I have some provisos though: no body or facial hair and an attractive face. Call me shallow, but I am a sucker for a pretty face.

 

[JohnEmmett]

Call me shallow, but I am a sucker for a pretty face.

You are neither shallow nor a sucker.

Beauty is a good standard.

 

[JohnEmmett]

 

[Maybenartist]

You are neither shallow nor a sucker.

Beauty is a good standard.

So what about those that do not fulfill the standard of beauty such as me? I'm sure I fall way below the standard of beauty, does that make me substandard?

 

[snoball]

I'm sure I fall way below the standard of beauty,

You're just digging for compliments. You know you're good looking.

 

[Maybenartist]

You're just digging for compliments. You know you're good looking.

No fooling you is there!

 

[JohnEmmett]

So what about those that do not fulfill the standard of beauty such as me? I'm sure I fall way below the standard of beauty, does that make me substandard?

I meant artistic beauty

 

[musket]

Figures, John.

I'm shallow. I go for beauty. Went, actually--my current romance has been going on for twenty-four years, and she will be the last of many girlfriends. My best sweetie ever.

First the envelope, then we'll see what's inside.

 

[JohnEmmett]

Beauty is a particular karma


It comes from patience, tolerance, forgiveness


Hence Socrates practiced patience

 

[musket]

Beauty, whether male or female, is no guarantee of a sparkling personality.

 

[JohnEmmett]