Paragone

Comparisons of the two mediums ranged from conceptual themes to practices, underscoring the intellectual role of the artist in the era.

[7] Sculpture was typically claimed to be the only method of having several different and faithful views of the same figure by those who found it to be the more superior medium.

[6] This allowed figures not only to be viewed at multiple angles, but for these to be seen at the same time, which is an ability that sculpture is incapable of providing.

Michelangelo did not take a clear side in the debates, but did underscore a component which he believed to be essential to both painting and sculpture, called disegno.

[8] Vasari and with him Benvenuto Cellini, also asserted that the ability to render an accurate contour line were technical skills that benefited both painting and sculpture.