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Bernard Berenson Quotes

Art critic

Bernard Berenson was an esteemed art critic and art historian, renowned for his expertise in the identification and evaluation of European art. Born on June 26, 1865, and passing away on October 6, 1959, Berenson's influence on the art world was profound. His writings and appraisals have had a lasting impact on subsequent generations.

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All Art Men Doe Feels Felt Ifs People Believe Hands Life Years Aging Appreciate Art Is Boast Comprehensive Corners Desire Government Happens

Famous Bernard Berenson Quotes

“Art is mind and heart and touch as much and more than it is mere instrument, technique - without which however it cannot exist at all.”

Mind Heart Art Art Is Instruments Mere Technique Heart And Mind

Book:The Bernard Berenson Treasury: A Selection from the Works, Unpublished Writings, Letters, Diaries, and Journals of the Most Celebrated Humanist and Art Historian of Our Times, 1887-1958

Source: The Bernard Berenson Treasury: A Selection from the Works, Unpublished Writings, Letters, Diaries, and Journals of the Most Celebrated Humanist and Art Historian of Our Times, 1887-1958

“Government is the art of the momentary feasible, of the least bad attainable, and not of the rationally most desirable.”

Art Government Desirable Momentary

Book:Rumour and Reflection: 1941:1944

Source: Rumour and Reflection: 1941:1944

“No artifact is a work of art if it does not help to humanize us. Without art...our world would have remained a jungle.”

Ifs World Doe Art Helping Works Of Art Our World Jungle Artifacts

Author:Bernard Berenson

“Art, in the widest sense of the word, is the instrument Hellenism has used and would use for that purpose. All the arts, poetry, music, ritual, the visual arts, the theatre, must work singly and together to create the most comprehensive art of all, a humanized society, and its masterpiece, the free man.”

Men Art Together Theater Visible Ritual Masterpiece Comprehensive Free Man

Author:Bernard Berenson

“The ultimate justification of the work of art is to help the spectator to become a work of art himself.”

Art Helping Art Is Ultimate Works Of Art Justification Spectators

Book:Essays in Appreciation

Source: Essays in Appreciation

“I wonder whether art has a higher function than to make me feel, appreciate, and enjoy natural objects for their art value?”

Feels Art Values Enjoy Natural Wonder Objects Higher Appreciate Function

Book:Sketch For A Self Portrait

Source: Sketch For A Self Portrait

“Not what man knows but what man feels, concerns art. All else is science.”

Knows Men Feels Art Concern

Book:The Italian Painters of the Renaissance

Source: The Italian Painters of the Renaissance

About the Author

Born: June 26, 1865
Died: October 6, 1959
Known for: Art critic
Quotes: 44

Books & Sources

The Bernard Berenson Treasury: A Selection from the Works, Unpublished Writings, Letters, Diaries, and Journals of the Most Celebrated Humanist and Art Historian of Our Times, 1887-1958Related source material

Sunset and Twilight: From the Diaries of 1947-1958Related source material

Rumour and Reflection: 1941:1944Related source material

Sketch For A Self PortraitRelated source material

Venetian and North Italian SchoolsRelated source material

Colloqui con BerensonRelated source material

Essays in AppreciationRelated source material

Looking at pictures with Bernard BerensonRelated source material

The Florentine painters. The Central Italian paintersRelated source material

The Italian Painters of the RenaissanceRelated source material

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