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      By studying the early Greek philosophers you will understand the meaning of Kanon Rule. Task 2 is for understanding there is a rhythm in learning from old to new, especially for art students in studying the early color theorists up to the ones more recent in history. Rhythm is what you are finding when you recognize change. This changing rhythm is what will ultimately help you design better artwork.

      It is our purpose to examine how early philosophers thought about color theory and to recognize their influence in establishing color theories was a powerful one in influencing 5th century Kanon Rule's continuity--the right direction for principles of asethetics, art, and architecture. As you progress through New Art Literacy Explained, remember examining the early evidence will ensure you own a sense of profundity they helped inspire.

      It was Polykleitos, a 5th century BC ancient Greek sculptor in bronze, who sculptured many figure sculptures with expressive postures. Polykleitos wrote the book titled Kanon (Rule), or Canon, translated "measure" or "rule". This publication established the aesthetics of values for harmonic relationships of the various parts of the human body in the 5th century BC. It was the beginning of figure sculpture demonstrated expressive features. Doryphoros of Polykleitos (Spear Bearer) demonstrates the canon principles of aesethetics and the beginning of contrapposto (counterpoise).

      Classical Greek Contrapposto was the development in Western art that marked the beginning of incorporating the expression of psychological disposition into figure sculpturing. Visit the image of Doryphoros, © Naples National Archaeological Museum. The sculpture is 6-foot 11-inches and an example of Classical Greek contrapposto and Classical Greek realism. The lost original was bronze and cast c. 440 BC by Polykeitos. A marble copy is housed in the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

      Visit images for Doryphoros and other fine examples of contrapposto here. The Venus de Milo (c. 130-100 BC) by Alexandros of Antioch depicts an S Curve body shape and David (c. 1501-1504 AD) by Michelangelo depicts a different direction for the hips than the shoulders. Contrapposto is a posture where the weight of it rests heavily on one foot more than the other. At the bottom of the Polykeitos (sometimes Polyclitus) page, note the links to more statues in galleries and visit these images.

      Continue to read where you left off in Chapter One - Metacognition of New Art Literacy Explained. Your purpose is organization of thought to examine rhythm from the past into a future concept, in order to respect your own creativity.