The Renaissance – Studies in Art and Painting

For art comes to you proposing frankly to give nothing but the highest quality to your moments as they pass, and simply for those moments’ sake.

ythology of the Italian Renaissance, which grew up from the mixture of two traditions, two sentiments, the sacred and the profane

imagery of the Greek religion, the direct charm of its story, were by artists valued and cultivated for their own sake

ll breathes of that unity of culture in which “whatsoever things are comely” are reconciled, for the elevation and adorning of our spirits.

In their search after the pleasures of the senses and the imagination, in their care for beauty, in their worship of the body

All the charm of the piece is in its details

the rude strength of the middle age turns to sweetness

deeply penetrated his thoughts

For our one chance lies in expanding that interval, in getting as many pulsations as possible into the given time

The service of philosophy, of speculative culture, towards the human spirit, is to rouse, to startle it to a life of constant and eager observation