It would seem simpler, look into the dictionary of Latin words and get the result: lapido is translated into Russian as “stone”. Now we make an epithet from a noun. Therefore, “lapidary” simply means “stone”? In what cases is this scientific word used? Is it possible to say: “He sat with a lapidary face”? Probably not. The expression “lapidary house” is also impossible. Most often, this epithet is used in conjunction with the words "syllable" or "style." Moreover, to call someone's way of expressing lapidary means praising his or her oratory abilities. It seems that the “stone” syllable or style of expressing thoughts on paper seems overly heavy. But in order to fully understand what “lapidary” means, you need to make a small digression into history.
What is written with a chisel ...
In ancient times, paper was not known in Europe. Plain text was written on wax tablets. When it became unnecessary, the letters were erased. The wax was heated a little, the surface was leveled with a spatula - and again had a clean sheet for writing. But what to do with texts of national importance, laws, decrees, international treaties? You can, of course, use papyrus. But then you won’t put the text on the main square of the city to familiarize citizens with it. That is why decrees, charters and other documents of national importance were carved in stone. But, since this material is difficult to write, the thought did not spread much along the tree. Antique paperwork was concise, concise, but at the same time weighty and understandable. This syllable was later called "lapidary." The meaning of the word, therefore, varies somewhat. This is no longer a way to express it heavily, but a syllable worthy of being carved in stone.
Laconicism and lapidarity
Ancient Rome has left us many stelae and monuments, where the idea has been expressed clearly and concisely, but at the same time beautiful and elegant. Following the politicians who wanted to convey their will to the people, recognized speakers began to express themselves like that. Rhetoric, one of the central sciences in ancient Rome, taught the art of speaking. Listeners had to be carried away, not tired. Therefore, a lapidary speaker is a true master of the syllable. After all, it is important not to overdo it. Excessive brevity could lead to rejection by the majority of the audience. As the father of rhetoric himself expressed, Horace, the more you try to be short, the more you become incomprehensible. In oratory, it was important to find the middle ground: expressing your thoughts expressively, clearly, clearly and concisely, while clotting them in a form that would penetrate the very heart of the listener or reader.
Further metamorphoses of the word lapidary
This ability to speak beautifully and briefly became almost a virtue in ancient Rome. But even with the fall of the great empire, oratory was not lost. Of course, there have been periods in history when fashion came to lavish, colorful, verbose and ornate expressions. But this style was ridiculed by great writers. For example, Shakespeare, who lived just in this era, wrote: "The more words, the less weight they have." And the great Russian classic Leo Tolstoy said that brief thoughts are good because they make the smart reader think himself. A striking example of lapidary style are aphorisms. These are brief maxims in which deep thought is clearly expressed. Funny, but there are aphorisms for brevity. No wonder Anton Pavlovich Chekhov talked about this. He owns the phrase that everything ingenious is simple, and brevity is the sister of talent.
"Lapidary": the meaning of the term in modernist art
Brevity, clarity, conciseness - these are the main qualities that the art of modernism has adopted. In his rebellion against the academic style, it has resorted to a simple but powerful strokes, juicy, bright colors without halftones. It seeks to show life as it is, without embellishing the truth. Here's how to explain cubism in 1921, one of his apologists, SK Makovsky: "The revolutionary style of painting lapidary. This new art does not tolerate sophisticated, it is fed up with this sweetness. " The same trends touched not only the fine arts of the early twentieth century, but also literature. And in our time, the concept of "minimalism" has found its application - a kind of lapidarity in the design of interiors.
Empire
Anyone who has seen buildings built in the Empire style will doubt it. What can this rich, lapidary architectural hulk generously adorned with stone decorations and metal forging have in common? Empire is a modified word "empire". The style became fashionable during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was later picked up at the time of the Restoration. In the vastness of the Soviet Union, its interesting branch is known - the Stalinist Empire. So, what brings the decor with pear apples streaming from the cornucopia, heavy stucco molding with hammer sickles and generously, if not to say, overly decorated cornices to the style called “lapidary”? This is a spiritual connection with ancient Rome. As you remember, we know about lapidarity by commemorative stelae with inscriptions. The Empire style building is characterized by antique columns, pilasters, motifs from Olympic mythology on the friezes, as well as short lapidary inscriptions praising civic and state virtues.