It is impossible to say what kind of quality make one work a masterpiece while the other is regarded as not worth of attention. There is the belief that artists are living in front of their times and for this reason their works are marked as masterpieces long after their death. Masterpiece is the piece of the art that makes people excited. Usually, masterpieces are described as beautiful, unusual, exciting, eternal, and unique. The painting of Leonardo Da Vinci “Mona Lisa” is not his greatest work, but it is definitely a masterpiece, which excites millions of people for many generations. This painting is full of mystery even though nothing is hidden, it causes numerous debates while it does not depict anything doubtable.
Every artist dreams to create his own “Mona Lisa” but not everyone is able to create similar masterpiece. Michelangelo Buonarroti’s name has become synonymous to the masterpiece. He is called the “creator of the works of sublime beauty that express the full breadth of the human condition” (http://michelangelo.com/buon/bio-index2.html?http://www.michelangelo.com/buon/bio-early.html). Unlike many other artists of his time, his talent was recognized.
It is possible to say that every work of Michelangelo deserves to be labeled as masterpiece, however, his marble Pieta has made the young artist famous. He finished it before he was 25 years. This marble is very interesting in context: Mary is shown holding the dead Christ across her lap but her expression is not grief, she is rather restrained and designated. In addition, this sculpture was one of the works he has ever signed.
Ars Gratia Artis is the motto of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., the American media company producing and distributing the cinema and television programs. This motto means Art for Art’s Sake. This company has the greatest output of all the studios – releasing one feature film a week along with many short subjects and serials (http://www.wikicg.com/wiki/index.php/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).
Is this motto appropriate for MGM? I would say yes because the entertainment industry produces the pieces of art with the aim to generate some feelings of the viewers. Of course, the company is profit-oriented, but the initial goal is to create the work that will amaze the viewers, the work that will make them think and talk about it for many years.
Works Cited Masterpiece. Answers.Com Encyclopedia. 15 October 2006 <http://www.answers.com/topic/masterpiece> Michelangelo Buonarroti Early Life. 15 October 2006 <http://michelangelo.com/buon/bio-index2.html?http://www.michelangelo.com/buon/bio-early.html> Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. Wiki CG Encyclopedia. 15 October 2006 <http://www.wikicg.com/wiki/index.php/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer>