"The poet ranks far below the painter in the representation of visible things, and far below the musician in that of invisible things"
- Leonardo da Vinci
About this Quote
This quote by Leonardo da Vinci speaks to the power of the arts and how each art kind has its own unique ability to represent the world. The poet is viewed as being the least efficient in the three art types in terms of representing the noticeable world. This is due to the fact that poetry depends on words to develop images and emotions, whereas painting and music can directly represent the real world. On the other hand, the artist is seen as being the most efficient in the 3 art kinds in terms of representing the invisible world. This is due to the fact that music has the capability to evoke emotions and feelings that can not be expressed through words or images. Thus, the quote is a testimony to the power of the arts and how each art form has its own distinct ability to represent the world.
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