Extreme Detail

Throughout the reading, it is easily gathered that Vasari wanted to establish which time period of art was the best, which where the best artists, and what made those artists great. Vasari stated, “These achievements certainly belong to the third period, when I can say confidently that art has achieved everything possible in the imitation of nature and has progressed so far that it has more reason to fear slipping back than to expect ever to make further advances.” Throughout the preface of Lives of the Artists, Vasari makes mention that what extreme detail is what makes the piece of artwork and artist great, “And then we come to Erione, Nicomachus, Protogenes, and Apelles, who produced beautiful work which was perfect in every detail and could not possibly have been improved on; for these artists not only painted superb forms and gestures but also depicted the emotions and passions of the spirit.” Vasari believed it was important to have detailed artwork that expressed emotions, and told stories, because those art pieces can be an excellent source of history.
In the artworks selected, the detail in which Vasari was concerned is displayed. In Giotto’s Justice and Injustice, minute detail is shown. At the bottom of the paintings, there are murals depicting the overall picture of Justice and Injustice as well as the main subject in the picture. Even in Lorenzo Ghiberti’s East Doors of Florence Baptistry, minute scenes are depicted in extreme detail; a work of art that was made on a door. Detail truly made the piece of art come alive- an issue and topic the artist and Vasari were extremely concerned about. Those details, Vasari believed distinguishes good art from great art.