What Makes an Artist “Great”? : Crash Course Art History #4

Summary

This Crash Course Art History episode, hosted by Sarah Urist Green, explores the origins of the 'Great Artist' myth, tracing it back to Renaissance Europe. It discusses how art was historically created collectively or anonymously, contrasting with the later emphasis on individual genius artists. The Medici family's patronage and the rise of art academies played pivotal roles in shaping the concept of 'greatness' in art. The episode also touches on the exclusion of women and people of color from this narrative, questioning the criteria for artistic greatness and prompting a reevaluation of who gets to be considered a 'Great Artist'.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The concept of the 'Great Artist' originated in Renaissance Europe, where art was previously made collectively or anonymously.
• 🏛 Prior to the Renaissance, guilds were the primary art producers, valuing technical skill and craftsmanship rather than individual genius.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The Medici family and other patrons began to fund artists independently, valuing art that expressed complex ideas and emotions, thus shaping the 'art vs. craft' debate.
• 📚 Giorgio Vasari's 'The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects' was an early art historical writing that biographically framed art and artists, emphasizing intellectual pursuit over physical labor.
• 👼 Vasari described great artists as having a 'nugget of genius', which contributed to the idea of the 'tortured artist' and the importance of divine inspiration in art creation.
• 🌿 Naturalism, with its use of light and shadow for realism, was favored for its scientific and philosophical depth, further differentiating art from mere craft.
• 🏫 Art academies, like the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris, emerged with strict rules and high standards, emphasizing technique and the intellectual aspect of art.
• 👑 Academies reinforced the myth of the Great Artist by integrating technical skill with genius and promoting the idea that painting, especially history painting, was the highest form of art.
• 👩‍🎨 Despite women's exclusion from certain academic opportunities, such as studying anatomy or drawing male nudes, they still made significant contributions to art.
• 🤔 The script challenges the traditional narrative by questioning whether the criteria for 'greatness' in art are constructed by an elite few and whether they exclude diverse artists.
• 🌐 The myth of the Great Artist has had a global impact, but recognizing diverse perspectives can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of art and history.

Q & A

What is the traditional association of art with individual artists?

The traditional association of art with individual artists is that they are considered geniuses and are often singled out, elevated, and praised, which is a concept that can be traced back to Renaissance Europe.

How did the art production process change from medieval times to the Renaissance?

During medieval times, art was primarily produced by guilds, which functioned as training programs and emphasized technical skill and craftsmanship. In contrast, the Renaissance period saw wealthy patrons like the Medicis funding artists independently of the guilds, valuing art that expressed complex ideas and emotions.

What is the origin of the term 'masterpiece'?

The term 'masterpiece' originated from the guild system, where it referred to a work that demonstrated the artist’s skill had reached master level, signifying they had completed their training and were now a master within the guild.

Why did the Medici family begin to fund artists independently of the guilds?

The Medici family, as wealthy merchants and political leaders, began to fund artists independently of the guilds as a status symbol. Italy's prosperous economy due to its position along flourishing trade routes allowed them to bankroll the next Renaissance art superstar.

What was Giorgio Vasari's contribution to the concept of the 'Great Artist'?

Giorgio Vasari contributed to the concept of the 'Great Artist' through his book 'The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects,' where he described great artists as having a nugget of genius that sets them apart and suggested that learning about artists’ lives was important to understanding their art.

How did the rise of art academies in the 16th century influence the perception of art and artists?

Art academies, like the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris, influenced the perception of art and artists by emphasizing technique and intellectual pursuit, incorporating the concept of skill into the myth of the Great Artist, and promoting the idea that painting, especially history painting, was the highest form of art.

What role did art academies play in shaping the criteria for 'greatness' in art?

Art academies played a significant role in shaping the criteria for 'greatness' in art by setting strict rules and high standards, promoting the idea that technical skill and intellectual pursuit were components of being a 'genius,' and by favoring certain subjects and styles over others.

Why were women often excluded from being considered 'Great Artists' during the academy era?

Women were often excluded from being considered 'Great Artists' because they faced numerous obstacles in art academies, such as not being allowed to study anatomy or draw male nudes, which were requirements for becoming a history painter and thus achieving the status of a Great Artist.

How did the painter Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun challenge the traditional narrative of the 'Great Artist'?

Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun challenged the traditional narrative of the 'Great Artist' by creating self-portraits that contained layers of hidden meaning and positioned herself as an accomplished and intellectual artist, despite the exclusionary practices of the time.

What is the significance of Kerry James Marshall's 'Untitled (Painter)' in the context of the 'Great Artist' myth?

Kerry James Marshall's 'Untitled (Painter)' is significant as it challenges the traditional 'Great Artist' myth by depicting a Black artist in the stereotypical 'artist' pose, questioning whether the criteria for 'greatness' were constructed based on the arbitrary rules of an elite few and highlighting the exclusion of traditionally marginalized artists from the canon.

What does the script suggest about the current state of the art world and the concept of 'greatness'?

The script suggests that the art world is evolving, with institutions like the Royal Academy of Arts recognizing artists like Kerry James Marshall as Honorary Royal Academicians. It implies that there is a growing awareness and effort to include traditionally excluded artists and to question the established criteria for 'greatness' in art.