The Purpose of Giorgione’s Painting
“The Three Philosophers” and “The Tempest” are two paintings by Giorgione which have inspired much confusion and a variety of different interpretations. Stephen Campbell attempts to make a definitive explanation of “The Tempest” by understanding it in its local, humanist, context. Alexander Nagel, on the other hand, makes the argument that there is no conclusive answer possible for what these paintings mean. Instead, these painting have a purpose; they are supposed to be open to multiple readings and interpretations and the act of this intellectual analysis was their aim. Campbell discusses the cultural and intellectual context of Giorgione’s “The Tempest” and finds that the equating of art with poetry,
“The Three Philosophers” and “The Tempest” are two paintings by Giorgione which have inspired much confusion and a variety of different interpretations. Stephen Campbell attempts to make a definitive explanation of “The Tempest” by understanding it in its local, humanist, context. Alexander Nagel, on the other hand, makes the argument that there is no conclusive answer possible for what these paintings mean. Instead, these painting have a purpose; they are supposed to be open to multiple readings and interpretations and the act of this intellectual analysis was their aim. Campbell discusses the cultural and intellectual context of Giorgione’s “The Tempest” and finds that the equating of art with poetry,