Chapter 27 Volume Three, Chapter Ten

Socrates hoped to do the craftsmen a favor by talking to them about their various crafts.On Painting, Section 1.Of the beauty of expressive perfection, § 2.On expressing inner feelings, verses 3-5.On Sculpture, Sections 6-8.On the merits of the breastplate, §9-15. Whenever Socrates talks to those who have skill and make a living from it, he is also useful to them. Once when he went into the house of the painter Palacius and talked to him, he said to him, "Well, Palacius, isn't painting a representation of what we see? In any case, you painters always faithfully depict those low and high, dark and light, hard and soft, rough and smooth, fresh and ancient through color. of〕."

"You're right," Palacias replied. "Also, when you depict beautiful characters, because it is not easy for a person to be perfect in every way, you extract the most beautiful parts from many characters, so that the whole image you create is perfect. It looked very beautiful." "Indeed, that's exactly what we do," Palacias replied. "And do you also describe the character of the mind, the most pleasing, the most pleasing, the most desirable, the loveliest character? Or is it impossible to describe it?" asked Socrates. Palacius replied: "Ah, Socrates, how can one describe that which is immeasurable, colorless, and none of the qualities you have just mentioned, and which is completely invisible?"

"Then, is it possible to tell whether a person loves or hates others by the way he looks at others?" Socrates asked. "I think so," Palacias replied. "Then, can this situation be depicted in the eyes?" "Of course," Palacias replied. "As for the good and bad of friends, do you think there is the same expression on the faces of those who care about them and those who do not?" "Certainly not," replied Palacius, "for they were all happy with their friends when they were good, and sad with their bad." "Then, is it possible to express the situation?"

"Of course," Palacias replied. "And, nobility and magnanimity, baseness and intolerance, temperance and sobriety, pride and ignorance, whether a person is at rest or in motion, are expressed by their looks and manners." "You're right," Palacias replied. "In this way, these can also be described?" "Without a doubt," Palacias replied. "So, do you think people prefer to look at pictures that reflect beauty, kindness, and loveliness, or those that show ugly, evil, and hateful images?" "Socrates, there is indeed a great difference between the two," replied Palacias.Once Socrates visited the sculptor Clayton and said to him when talking with him, "Clayton, the images of runners, wrestlers, boxers and fighters you sculpt are all wonderful. You can see it and you know it, but how do you create that look that is most engaging and lifelike to the beholder?"

When Clayton hesitated and could not answer immediately, Socrates asked further, "Is it because you make your works resemble the images of living things that they appear more alive?" "It must be," Clayton replied. "Is it because of the sagging or lifting, squeezing or separating, tension or relaxation of various parts of your body with different postures, all of which are vividly depicted, which makes it realistic and convincing? Woolen cloth?" "Exactly," Clayton replied. "Would not the faithful depiction of the feelings of people who are physically engaged in an action produce a certain satisfaction in the beholder?"

"It is at least natural," replied Clayton. "In this way, should we also describe the striking eyes of the fighters and imitate the joyful expressions of the victors?" "That is very necessary," replied Clayton. "In this case," Socrates said, "a sculptor should express his inner activities through forms." Once when Socrates visited the breastplate maker Pistias, Pistias pointed out the well-made breastplate to Socrates, and Socrates said: "I pointed to Hera The goddess speaks, Pistias, the breastplate is a very ingenious invention, it covers all the parts of the human body that need to be covered, but at the same time it does not hinder the use of the hands." "However," added Socrates, "tell me, Pistias, that your breastplate is neither stronger nor more expensive than others', why should you sell it? Is it more expensive than others?"

"Ah, Socrates, it is because I make things more fitting than others," replied Pistias. "How do you make them fit, in terms of size, or in weight, so that you can charge them a higher price? Because I think if you make them fit, you You wouldn't make them all equal or exactly the same." "I made them fit, of course, because a breastplate is useless if it doesn't fit," said Pisthias. "Since this is the case, don't some people's bodies look fit and others don't?" "Indeed it is," replied Pistias. "How, then, can you make a proper breastplate for a man of ill-formed stature?"

"Always make it fit," said Pisthias, "for what fits fits." "I suppose," said Socrates, "that you speak of propriety not in relation to the thing itself, but in relation to its user, just as you may say of a buckler or a tunic. , is fittingly the same for those who use it, and, as you say, for other things. But there may be other no lesser advantages to use as well." "Socrates, if you know what is good about it, please teach me," said Pisthias. "A good breastplate, though of the same weight as an inappropriate breastplate, will appear less stressed; for an inappropriate breastplate, hanging entirely heavy on the shoulders, weighs very heavily on the rest of the body. Heavy, and very uncomfortable; a proper breastplate, with its weight evenly distributed over collarbones, shoulders, upper arms, chest, back, and belly, is more a natural addition than a burden."

"You are right," said Pistias, "that is why I consider my wares to be of great value; but some people like to buy breastplates with ornament and gilt." . "But," said Socrates, "if for that reason they buy things that are not suitable, they buy, in my opinion, some garish and gilded scourge. Still," Socrates continued, "How can a exact breastplate work, since the body is not always in one position, but is sometimes bent and sometimes straightened?" "That is impossible," replied Pistias. "You mean," asked Socrates, "that what is appropriate is not what is exact, but what makes it easy to use?"

"You are right," replied Pistias, "Socrates, you understand exactly right."