by Rick Badman

Created on: August 26, 2009

There are various categories of great art. There is personal great art of the artist. There is contemporary greatness. And there is perpetual greatness. It is the same in all types of art. Sometimes an artist is fortunate enough to have a work be great in his own eyes or ears, in the eyes or ears of those around him, and in the eyes or ears of future art lovers.

Take for instance Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." He thought it was mainly a bunch of noise. He did it because he was commissioned to compose it in honor of the Russian victory over Napoleon. The people must have enjoyed it because it has been considered a great piece of music for nearly a century and a half.

Then there is Beethoven. People praised his "Seventh Symphony" which is one of my favorite of his too. But they didn't appreciate his "Eighth Symphony" which was not as monumental. But he loved it and thought it should be rated higher. It's good. But I don't consider it as great as his third, fifth, sixth, seventh, or ninth.

Leonardo DaVinci loved his painting "The Mona Lisa" and took it with him where he went in France and Italy sort of like an artist portfolio. The public loved it too and it is what people think of first when they think of DaVinci. He was the fortunate artist that created a work he thought was great and so did the public.

A piece of art that is considered perpetually great should appeal to the appropriate senses and have qualities that will allow it to remain great. Take for instance Bach and Telemann. Three centuries ago, Telemann was considered possibly the greatest composer in Germany. He was in such demand that he composed cantatas for two churches every week. In Leipzig, the church Bach eventually serviced wanted Telemann. But he was too busy and wanted too much money. So they had to settle for Bach. Shortly after Bach's death, his music lost favor in public and he was nearly forgotten. But around a century later, Mendelssohn re-discovered Bach and conducted a performance of his "Saint Matthew's Passion" which I love to hear when I'm driving on my first day of vacation. I like the music of Telemann. But most of it is forgotten while most of Bach's music is considered the greatest music ever composed. He loved his music and dedicated it to God. That could be why so much of it sounds so divine.

Van Gogh loved his painting Sunflowers which I believe was the only work he sold during his lifetime. He sold it for money to buy supplies. He

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