Medieval aesthetics

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Medieval aesthetics refers to the general philosophy of beauty during the Medieval period. Although Aesthetics did not exist as a field of study during the Middle Ages, influential thinkers active during the period did discuss the nature of beauty and thus an understanding of medieval aesthetics can be obtained from their writings.

Medieval aesthetics is characterized by its synthesis of Classical and Christian conceptions of beauty. The thought of Aristotle and Plato, framed by that of the Neoplatonist Plotinus, placed an emphasis on concepts such as harmony, light, and symbolism.^[1] By contrast, readings of the Bible inspired an interrogation of the relationship between nature and the divine.^[2] The writings of St Augustine and Pseudo-Dionysius integrated Plato and Plotinus with early Church Doctrine, while St Thomas Aquinas incorporated Aristotelian philosophy into his discussion of beauty in nature.^[2] The theological concerns of these writers meant that their aesthetic theories were relatively neglected post-Enlightenment,^[3] but their influence had been extensive, especially during the Renaissance.^[4] In recent times, the works of Spanish director Luis Buñuel have been inspired by medieval theories of beauty.^[5]