Sophist – Plato
STRANGER: Well, then, pursuing the same ana-there is a certain degree of deception; for artists lytic method as before, I think that I can discern were to give the true proportions of their fair two divisions of the imitative art, but I am not works, the upper part, which is farther off, would as yet able to see in which of them the desired appear to be out of proportion in comparison with form is to be found.
the lower, which is nearer; and so they give up the truth in their images and make only the pro-THEAETETUS: Will you tell me first what are portions which appear to be beautiful, disregard-the two divisions of which you are speaking?
ing the real ones.
STRANGER: One is the art of likeness-making;—
THEAETETUS: Quite true.
generally a likeness of anything is made by producing a copy which is executed according to STRANGER: And that which being other is also the proportions of the original, similar in length like, may we not fairly call a likeness or image?
and breadth and depth, each thing receiving also its appropriate colour.
THEAETETUS: Yes.
THEAETETUS: Is not this always the aim of imi-STRANGER: And may we not, as I did just now, tation?
call that part of the imitative art which is concerned with making such images the art of like-STRANGER: Not always; in works either of sculp-ness-making?
ture or of painting, which are of any magnitude, 107
Sophist – Plato
THEAETETUS: Let that be the name.
THEAETETUS: Most fairly.
STRANGER: And what shall we call those resem-STRANGER: These then are the two kinds of blances of the beautiful, which appear such owing image-making—the art of making likenesses, and to the unfavourable position of the spectator, phantastic or the art of making appearances?
whereas if a person had the power of getting a correct view of works of such magnitude, they would THEAETETUS: True.
appear not even like that to which they profess to be like? May we not call these ‘appearances,’ since STRANGER: I was doubtful before in which of they appear only and are not really like?
them I should place the Sophist, nor am I even now able to see clearly; verily he is a wonderful THEAETETUS: Certainly.
and inscrutable creature. And now in the clev-erest manner he has got into an impossible STRANGER: There is a great deal of this kind of place.
thing in painting, and in all imitation.
THEAETETUS: Yes, he has.
THEAETETUS: Of course.
STRANGER: Do you speak advisedly, or are you STRANGER: And may we not fairly call the sort carried away at the moment by the habit of as-of art, which produces an appearance and not senting into giving a hasty answer?
an image, phantastic art?