Roger de Piles

Roger de Piles was a 17th-century French art critic, painter, and diplomat known for his influential ideas on art appreciation. He emphasized that judging art involves both aesthetic taste and knowledge about the artist and technique. De Piles proposed that good art should evoke emotion and be technically skilled, but also that personal feelings influence our judgments. His most famous work, "The Art of Painting," helped shape modern ideas of artistic merit, blending reasoned analysis with emotional response. Overall, he promoted a balanced view that art is appreciated through both understanding and personal experience.