What objective beauty is not
Often I am told that beauty is subjective. I always reply that, no, beauty is Objective. The most often cited rebuttal is the quote, "Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder." This is true, and not depending on the context. If you are looking at two beautiful objects, then beauty is indeed in the eye of the Beholder. Something being objectively beautiful is not a contest. We get caught up discussing which artist is the greatest. This is not the discussion to have. My favorite painter is not Da Vinci, but I recognize that he is a master of the medium. Da Vinci produced works of art that are priceless, but they are not necessarily my favorite.
Is Bernini superior to Michelangelo? It doesn’t matter. Why does it not matter? Because they both are producers of Objective Beauty. So, is beauty then subjective? Surprisingly my answer is yes. The answer is yes of course because the are two producers of truly, and undeniably beautiful things. So your taste becomes your answer. There is Subjectivity in beauty as long as your comparison is of Objectively beautiful things. That is called Taste.
La Pietà by Michelangelo
Abduction of Proserpina 1622
I think Bernini is the greatest sculptor to ever pick up the chisel and hammer. To stand in front of the statue was an incredible feeling. I was thrilled, mesmerized, and incredulous to the point that I had to pinch myself.
Michelangelo’ Pieta was a different feeling for me. It was a more reverent feeling, but it still moved me to know that I was among the fortunate people to stand that close to magnificence.
So great artistic works move us in different ways. The great artists wanted that to happen. Great art produces different emotions on purpose. But you know something is beautiful just by looking at it, and also you also understand what beauty is not.