[April 15, 2024] One of the lessons from life is that we must be alert to the beauty in life, for there is little of greater value. Such a statement may seem nonsensical and naïve, but to see beauty for its value is on the same intellectual plane of discriminating between good and evil. This is a form of wisdom, and we all possess that ability, but we suppress it, unfortunately.
We are fortunate today that there are artists with great skill, both intellectually, artistically, and with a depth of knowledge about historical artworks that recreate historical beauty. This is most noticeable in the West, where traditional art meets modern technology.
Looking for beauty in the past from paintings (one of many forms of beauty) is difficult. The pre-photography past only provides us with “barely detailed and imprecise artistic depictions.”1 Art and science allow us to see what individuals looked like from facial reconstruction. I am most impressed by those who recreate old paintings and drawings using modern artistic techniques.
One of those is Becca Segovia, a graphic designer who gives us beautiful double portraits from past to present. Whether it be Napoleon Bonaparte, Henry VIII, or Simon Bolivar, we can now see them as they would appear today. Becca is the owner of Royalty Now Studios. She can be followed on LinkedIn here. Her depiction of Girl with a Pearl Earring first attracted me to her works.
Beauty helps set us right with the world. It is real, and so real, that beauty helps us overcome the suffering from tragedies and malevolence that life throws at us. Dr. Jordan Peterson speaks on this topic often, and I recommend listening to him talk about the many forms of beauty and how such beauty impacts us (see his interview with Oz here).
“When the fathers of the Christian Church were trying to understand God, to conceptualize God, he is seen as the sum of all good. What’s the highest value? It’s the sum of all good. It’s the integration of beauty and truth and justice … and so beauty is a window into that highest good. It’s a pointer to it. Of course [beauty] is vital because what could possibly more important than a pointer that is immune to rational criticism of the higher good.” – Dr. Jordan Peterson
According to Dr. Peterson, beauty calls us to a higher motive being, and it does that underneath rationality. By that, he means that beauty is at least partly the remedy to malevolent rationality and the evils of cynicism.
Beauty represents the goodness of the world and calls us to be more than we are, pushes us to be better and good, and rejects darkness and evil. It does this by helping orient us toward the good. What could be better than that?
The search for beauty is a path worth pursuing.
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- Scientists Recreate Faces Of People Who Lived Centuries Ago, And Some May Surprise You – https://www.boredpanda.com/historical-faces-reconstructed/
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Please read my books:
This is more than a simple observation by Gen. Satterfield but a look inside the human psyche. Let no one brush off his words. We all know what beauty is and how profound it is to have it in our lives.
Willy the Banger, true!!!!!!
“Beauty helps set us right with the world. It is real, and so real, that beauty helps us overcome the suffering from tragedies and malevolence that life throws at us. Dr. Jordan Peterson speaks on this topic often, and I recommend listening to him talk about the many forms of beauty and how such beauty impacts us” – Gen. Doug Satterfield. Sir, please keep these wonderful and “beautiful” articles on your professional website. Every morning when I log onto my computer, I go straight to this site and read. And it helps set the tone for me for the rest of the day.
Great article.
Beauty. When I Beauty I can’t imagine it without reflecting on the BIBLE in Genesis which means the beginning.
Here are the things created on each day: day 1 – light and darkness; day 2 – sky and sea; day 3 – land; day 4 – sun and moon; day 5 – birds and fish; day 6 – animals, man, and woman; day 7 – God rested
After all God creation he says” it’s very good.
It’s very good my beauty man and women who i took from man ribs . Love this time of the year the spring; the birds singing praises early in the morning; the cherry Blossom trees. 🌸.
Enjoy the beauty not only in art but enjoy the beauty in people that you meet each day.
Beauty is indestructible and works for us all.
Thank you Eddie, you are a good Christian, I can tell. Bless you! 🙏🏼
Beautiful.
You can see Becca Segovia’s works on YouTube. Go there to watch the videos.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Becca+Segovia
Yes, thanks for the summary link.
I like how Becca Segovia juxtapositions the original painting/drawing/statues against her recreations in modern. The contrast is a beauty to see. She is more than a graphic designer or artist, she is a kind of philosopher.
“Be alert to beauty.” In beauty, we can be set on the proper, moral path to a good life. I hope that Gen. Satterfield writes a book on more rules for a good life. Read his books “55 Rules for a Good Life” to get a start.
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
I got my copy and it is truly a fantastic book. Like Gen. Satterfield says, “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.”
God Bless General Satterfield.
“When the fathers of the Christian Church were trying to understand God, to conceptualize God, he is seen as the sum of all good. What’s the highest value? It’s the sum of all good. It’s the integration of beauty and truth and justice … and so beauty is a window into that highest good. It’s a pointer to it. Of course [beauty] is vital because what could possibly more important than a pointer that is immune to rational criticism of the higher good.” – Dr. Jordan Peterson
— Great quote.
👀👀👀👀👀 Enjoyed this article, thanks Gen. Satterfield 👀👀👀👀👀
Gen. Satterfield, several of your articles on beauty really stand out as a look deep inside the human mind. For a long time now, I only thought that beauty represented a marker for good health and the ability to reproduce, and while that is certainly a factor, beauty goes much deeper. I’m not saying I know what but I’m beginning to think that beauty is also a moral imperative. If you want to see how degradation of the human mind works, then just look at the crazy, purple haired, metaled faces of nutty liberal leftist. The deface their faces and bodies and defile themselves to show the world they do not believe in good.
Good thinking Max. Yep, just walk into any shopping mall today or in the downtown of a large city like NYC or Chicago and watch the freaks. If you think I exaggerate, then you haven’t been there. Many small minded folks will say that these purple haired girls are just “expressing themselves.” Yep, that’s true and they are saying, “hey, look at me trashing the moral norms of society and I don’t care.” That’s it all right.
I’m not so sure that freak is a good description. Maybe their mental illness has gone too far because we don’t say “no” when we should.
Good comments today. 😁
Yeah, thinking the same thing. But I like this discussion on the thinking that liberals want to deface their bodies as a way to sacrifice openly their mental ability to do good. They reject that notion that good is a moral imperative. So they become ‘victims’ of their own thinking and actions.
Max
You’re so right now.
Jordan Peterson is smart and articulate about the intrinsic value of beauty. That is why I listen to him and have read all his books. I recommend also listening to him on YouTube and other platforms.
👍 Dr. Peterson is da man. 👍