The belief that art originates in intuitive rather than rational facul

I agree this is a tricky question (700+) . I will try to explain

The passage starts as : The belief that art originates in intuitive rather than rational faculties... - Means the author starts to compare intuitive vs rational.
Author mentions that intuitiveness was reflected in volumes of Croce.
Further, the author mentions that 'long before Romantic era, which was stressed on intuition' - supports intuition in Romantic era...
'the frenzy(meaning craze) of inspiration was regarded as fundamental to art' - Suggests the pre-Romantic era stressed on frenzy of inspiration- A rational faculty.
Reader can infer that the rational control on artistic inspiration was evident in the pre Romantic era. Hence, D is the answer.

Option A is also a contender, but we do not know the extent to the degree of usage of intuition and intellect in the Romantic art. Hence, A is less promising to be the answer.

Hope it helps!

3.The passage implies that which of the following was a traditional assumption of aesthetic philosophers?

(A)Intellectual elements in art exert a necessary control over artistic inspiration.
(B)Architecture has never again reached the artistic greatness of the Gothic cathedrals.
(C)Aesthetic philosophy is determined by the technical necessities of art.
(D)Artistic craftsmanship is more important in architectural art than in pictorial art.
(E)Paintings lacked the intellectual element before the invention of linear perspective and anatomy.

Why A) and not C) ?

Hello my friend!

I am happy to help.
The passage states - 'philosophers had always assumed it must be controlled by law and by the intellectual power...'- This is the assumption of philosophers - Makes option A the perfect answer.
However, option C says - the philosophy was determined by technical necessities of art. -- The option is wrong for following reasons:
> The given content in C was not at all the assumption of philosophers. The passage says - philosophic concept of art was supported by technical necessities . So, the concept of philosopher was supported by technical necessities but the philosopher did not mean to say anything about technical necessities.
> Another point to note here is - the philosophy was not determined by technical necessities rather philosophic concept of art was supported by technical necessities (mentioned in passage).
Hence, the option C cannot be correct.

Hope it helps!

Summary – Author talks about art and its origin, as worked out by Croce, that art originated intuitively rather rationally – a belief though an old idea. Fundamental of art was inspiration long time ago before romantics(don’t know who they are) replaced it by intuition and self – expression. Philosophers were of the view that art must be controlled by law and by having individuals put things in order intellectually (i.e. by themselves they control their work), which author says is a technical necessity supporting it by examples. Further the orderliness was replaced by new technical elements – linear perspective and detailing - to maintain intellectuality in art.

1. The passage suggests that which of the following would most likely have occurred if linear perspective and anatomy had not come to influence artistic endeavor?
The question tests the application of the opposite to what is mentioned. A negating approach shall work.
(A)The craftsmanship that shaped Gothic architecture would have continued to dominate artists’ outlooks. – WRONG. Though it might be a possibility but can’t be surely said so.
(B)Some other technical elements would have been adopted to discipline artistic inspiration. – CORRECT. As suggested in the end of passage. If not linear perspective and anatomy then something else must have been adopted.
(C)Intellectual control over artistic inspiration would not have influenced painting as it did architecture. – WRONG. Again it can be a possibility though paintings are not discussed.
(D)The role of intuitive inspiration would not have remained fundamental to theories of artistic creation. – WRONG. Intuitive inspiration remains fundamental to art as per romantics however the opposite might not be true.
(E)The assumptions of aesthetic philosophers before Croce would have been invalidated. – WRONG. Apply negation in actual argument of the passage but it does not guarantee the option to be true.

2. The passage supplies information for answering which of the following questions?

(A)Does Romantic art exhibit the triumph of intuition over intellect? – WRONG.
(B)Did an emphasis on linear perspective and anatomy dominate Romantic art? – WRONG.
(C)Are the intellectual and intuitive faculties harmoniously balanced in post-Romantic art? – WRONG.
(D)Are the effects of the rational control of artistic inspiration evident in the great works of pre-Romantic eras? – CORRECT. Examples given helps identify the answer of the question asked in this option.
(E)Was the artistic craftsmanship displayed in Gothic cathedrals also an element in paintings of this period? – WRONG.

3. The passage implies that which of the following was a traditional assumption of aesthetic philosophers?
Marked C which is wrong. An inference question this requires to identify what must be true.
(A)Intellectual elements in art exert a necessary control over artistic inspiration. – CORRECT. Line “philosophers .. assumed it must be controlled by law and by the intellectual power … order” suggest the option to be true.
(B)Architecture has never again reached the artistic greatness of the Gothic cathedrals. – WRONG. Artistic greatness is not mentioned.
(C)Aesthetic philosophy is determined by the technical necessities of art. – WRONG.
(D)Artistic craftsmanship is more important in architectural art than in pictorial art. – WRONG. Irrelevant.
(E)Paintings lacked the intellectual element before the invention of linear perspective and anatomy. – WRONG. Though looks good but it talks about paintings which is not discussed.

4. The author mentions “linear perspective and anatomy” in the last sentence in order to do which of the following?

(A)Expand his argument to include painting as well as architecture – WRONG. Irrelevant.
(B)Indicate his disagreement with Croce’s theory of the origins of art – WRONG. No such opinion is given by author.
(C)Support his point that rational order of some kind has often seemed to discipline artistic inspiration – CORRECT. Line “new technical elements had to be adopted to maintain the intellectual element in art. Such were linear perspective and anatomy” suggest that orderliness still was present in art.
(D)Explain the rational elements in Gothic painting that corresponded to craftsmanship in Gothic architecture – WRONG. No such explanation is given only mentioned in passage.
(E)Show the increasing sophistication of artists after the Gothic period – WRONG. Irrelevant.

Almost 9 minutes

Q2, Option D --> what is the evidence for great works?

Hi Ezio23,

Please refer the answer: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-belief-t ... l#p1681728

Let me know if you still have doubts.


Thanks.

An "intellectually" challenging passage, 4 mins all correct, very good for training the RC muscle.

(D)Are the effects of the rational control of artistic inspiration evident in the great works of pre-Romantic eras?

You'll find the relevant information in bold below:

Long before the Romantics stressed intuition and self-expression, the frenzy of inspiration was regarded as fundamental to art, but philosophers had always assumed it must be controlled by law and by the intellectual power of putting things into harmonious order. This general philosophic concept of art was supported by technical necessities. It was necessary to master certain laws and to use intellect in order to build Gothic cathedrals

Although, when it comes to "great works" it's probably a matter of the attitude of the author in his usage of words and phrases like "Benedetto Croce [philosopher from the romantic era], who is usually considered the originator of a new aesthetic [Aesthetic is a word that is concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.].