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Articles

Art: the Demolition Derby

Colin Radford considers the wonderful world of modern art.

Every significant change in art provokes a reaction. Perhaps that’s a tautology, but that means it’s true. In 15th century Florence, Masaccio’s work inspired awe in those who admired Giotto; his paintings and murals were so threedimensional, solid, realistic, expressive – they could be mistaken for reality! Masaccio was working in an established tradition, so the public knew how to appreciate what he produced. Whereas the works of his more innovative contemporary, Uccello, were seen as unsuccessful wrestlings with the problem of perspective. It was quite some time before his groundbreaking new techniques were fully appreciated.

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