BuildaBridge1 : Artologists jamming during ... Photo by loveforleah. Shrnk. Brain Preferences Shaped Art History : D-brief. Beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder — it’s apparently also in the eyes of a painting’s subject.
“Cognitive attraction” is the theory that humans’ neurological processes favor certain cultural forms — invoked to explain things as varied as people’s interest in video games and the evolution of religion. Now a new study postulates that cognitive attraction was a contributor to Renaissance painters’ preference for direct-gaze portraits, and the subsequent popularity of paintings from that era. It’s known that direct-gaze poses elicit a stronger neurological response, including arousal, from an onlooker. Direct eye-gaze faces are also easier to identify, even by infants as young as four months, and are consistently rated as more attractive.
Morin found a similar evolution of direct-gaze portraits as the preferred pose in Korean paintings, giving weight to the theory that bias for direct-gaze is neurologically based and not specific to European cultures. MossRehab art therapy program partners with Philadelphia Museum of Art. MossRehab's art therapy program is partnering with the Philadelphia Museum of Art to inspire patients to express themselves artistically and to experience art up close.
"I want all my artists up front," said art museum tour guide Deena Gerson recently as she invited a group of patients to look at a painting. She wants participants to experience every detail. "Looks like we could step right into the painting, doesn't it? " she asked. Gerson chooses paintings that speak to the issues of struggle and transition. Moss Rehab Art therapist Marya Camilleri says the creative process is therapeutic on many levels.
"They are working on their motor skills as they are painting," explained Camilleri. She added that patients could also be working on expressing their emotions and coping with a transition that they are going through while doing art work. Darcie Moloshok, 26, came to Moss as an outpatient after brain surgery. Moloshok beamed and chuckled at the tour guide's observation. Graffiti from Pompeii. I.10.4 (near the rear entrance vestibule of the House of Menander); 8356: At Nuceria, look for Novellia Primigenia near the Roman gate in the prostitute’s district.
I.10.4 (exterior of the House of Menander); 8304: Satura was here on September 3rd I.10.7 (House and Office of Volusius Iuvencus; left of the door); 8364: Secundus says hello to his Prima, wherever she is. I ask, my mistress, that you love me. II.2.1 (Bar of Astylus and Pardalus); 8408: Lovers are like bees in that they live a honeyed life II.2.3 (Bar of Athictus; right of the door); 8442: I screwed the barmaid II.3.10 (Pottery Shop or Bar of Nicanor; right of the door); 10070: Lesbianus, you defecate and you write, ‘Hello, everyone!’ II.4.1 (bar; left of the door, near a picture of Mercury); 8475: Palmyra, the thirst-quencher II.7 (gladiator barracks); 8767: Floronius, privileged soldier of the 7th legion, was here. II.7 (gladiator barracks); 8792: On April 19th, I made bread.