The neo-platonic theory of vision in Michelangelo’s poetry

The Neoplatonic Theory of Vision in Michelangelo’s Poetry
Yuting Jiang (Anna)
HISART
Professor Willette
Submission Date:
The Neo-Platonic Theory of Vision in Michelangelo’s Poetry
According to Catherine Beyer, Neoplatonism is a system of mystical and theological philosophy that was founded by Plotinus in the third century. Beyer further explains that Neoplatonism was created by a number of Plotinus’ near contemporaries or contemporaries, including Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Proclus in Michelangelo’s Poetry. Neoplatonism is also influenced by different other frameworks of thought, such as Pythagoreanism and Stoicism. However, the original teachings are founded on Plato’s work, an infamous philosopher in classical Greece. The term Neoplatonist was coined by German academics in the mid-19th century basing on their modern understanding of Plato’s concepts.
Ficino is the first source for Michelangelo. One of the most fascinating quality about Ficino is that most of the things which he said about vision corresponded to what was featured in Michelangelo’s poetry. One such significant vision was about reconciliation or attempt to plutonic philosophy and Christian theology. Secondly, Michelangelo’s art of The Archers and The Dream were also Ficin’s visualization thoughts which were depicted by the central statements from the De amore, De vita, and Platonic Theology. The themes such as frenzy, the artistic temperament, and the imagination later on in the 16th century proved to be essential thoughts about drawing. Moreover, Ficino’s visions on inspiration, furor, and love form the fundamental basis that can best explain the Michelangelo’s artistic presentations. This paper seeks to examine the Neoplatonic theory of vision in Michelangelo’s Poetry.
Michelangelo used optical nerves, eyeballs, chiasm, and the brainstem as symbolic elements to represent meaningful aspects in his Neoplatonic theory. The study of Neoplatonic and Platonic philosophy is vast; hence, it provides a broad scope of thematic and visual representation of ideas that enhance the modest examination of Michelangelo’s Neoplatonic model of vision. For instance, Michelangelo uses vision in his theory to condemn sloth, envy, wrath, pride, avarice, lust, and gluttony. Researchers such as Robb 1935, Burckhardt 1954, and Blunt 1940 have tried to simplify Michelangelo’s neuro-atomic images using graphical principles that present the best literary outlines. Available literature from Michelangelo’s poetry, biographers and political climate help elucidate his metaphoric work presented in his paintings.
Many scholars such as Robb, Burckhardt, and Blunt of Michelangelo’s time used the Neoplatonic perspective to try to understand the world and the wonders of their time. Research further shows that scholars depended on the classical Greek philosophy coined by Plato and Plotinus regarding the religious and philosophical world lies and Neoplatonism to conduct studies and explain scientific principles. Michelangelo composed hundreds of madrigals, poems, and sonnets during his productive life ranging between 1475 to 1564. He is one of the first artists to have produced suc...