Roger de Piles and the Imitation of Nature. In 1708, the French art critic Roger de Piles wrote: “The essence of painting is the imitation of visible objects through form and color. From that observation one must conclude that painting imitates strongly and faithfully Nature; the better job it [painting] does towards this end, which is to seduce the eye, the more is reveals its true purpose.” Select one artwork, which, in your opinion, illustrates this statement. The artwork may or may not have been shown in class.
- Include information about the artist or creator.
- Mention/discuss materials and techniques used, title, date, dimension
- Engage visual information provided by the work of art in the analysis.
- What does the artwork depict? Does the work tell a story? If so, what is it?
- Point out the historical context and inherent aesthetic qualities of the work.
- Use some of the broader art historical themes and their underlying concepts introduced in class.
