The Nature of Art

The nature of art is a major theme found in the novel “The Agony and the Ecstasy”. Beauty is the principle purpose of art, though each of the characters in the novel approach art from different places. For example, many of Michelangelo’s patrons want to commission art to glorify themselves primarily, while some want the art to glorify God, to focus solely on beauty, or to celebrate humankind. Michelangelo himself struggles with his art—not the mechanics of producing beauty, but the message he tries to convey through beauty. He seeks to express the deep, immutable truths in the subjects he displays. Although he focuses on beauty, he seeks to express truths that transcend time.

Art and Societal Pressure

Art, and the role it plays in societal pressure as it relates to Michelangelo, is an important theme examined throughout the novel “The Agony and...