ABSTRACT
Basil Barrett explains how Frances Hutcheson described beauty as being found in ‘uniformity amidst variety’ where objects, which although complex and multifaceted, are perceived with a distinct uniformity. He then moves on to Denis Diderot, who Barrett suggests, also considered the relation of parts to a whole as defining beauty. According to the rule, objects must possess the most complex beauty, which are compleat in their own nature, supposing this nature to comprehend the greatest variety of necessaries, all contributing full effect. “Thus, an octagon excels a square, and a square, a figure of unequal sides: but carry variety to extreme, and it loses its effect. Or, in other words, that, if the beauty of an object may consist in this object’s having one part agreeing with itself; or, in its retaining its uniformity under the relation of one part, this beauty must increase, if the object be susceptible of retaining the same uniformity under relation of variety of parts.
