The Beauty of Plotinus, simple as lightning, asymmetrical, intelligible, soul and idea, transcendent like Good, was Ulysses, not Narcissus. In the Ennead 31, it is linked to Art, Intelligence, and Wisdom, and engraved in temples. Later, Saint Augustine too loved Beauty and read the Hortensius. In Milan, whilst in Cassiciacum and enamoured with Plotinus, Saint Augustine converted to Christianity under Ambrose. The mysticism of Pseudo-Dionysius, from darkness to light, then influenced the Middle Ages, and his Celestial Hierarchy, commented on by Scotus Eriugena and Hugh of Saint Victor, would inspire Suger's writings on light, the divine and Gothic architecture. At last, Ficino (15th century), the new Orpheus, promoted Suger's Aesthetics of Light, studied Plotinus, and explained to Lorenzo de' Medici the painting Primavera.
This book is of interest to students, specialist, and those interested in Plotinus, Marsilio Ficino and Beauty. It explores two time periods, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and their values, from ÎÎ±Î»Î¿Ï ÎºÎ±Î³Î±thοÏ, to the Good and the Beautiful.