Aesthetic concepts : medieval, renaissance and baroque

Abstract

Aesthetics in die period between Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages tends to be dominated by Platonic and Aristotelian theory. Medieval art works tend to be so much influenced by religious thinking that Darren H. Hick argues that "many issues pertaining to art and aesthetics are intertwined with issues of religion as 'theological aesthetics'". By way of contrast, art theory and aesthetics during the Renaissance were largely developed by the philosophers of the Enlightenment and practising artists. Therefore they tend to assume a more practical and observational approach, rather than one based only on theological aesthetics. On the other hand, an interesting mix of dynamism and theatrical aesthetics come together to infuse a sense of grandiosity and awe to Baroque art.