Comparison of art in Under Ben Bulben and Meditations in Time of Civil War

Yeats does not seem to gravitate from his opinion of art from his writing of Meditations in Time of Civil War to Under Ben Bulben.  His take on art in Meditations in Time of Civil War, particularly in “My Table” highlights art as being something that is eternal and must take time and pain to create.  The example of the ancient sword that he uses is evident as a sword of that caliber takes skill and time to make.  Art is also highlighted as something that is ancient, and the best art is that which has been created long ago.  It is also cyclical, as he compares it to the phases of the moon.  Because of the cyclical nature, art can never die, but it constantly in motion, and without the creation of art, there can be no moving ahead in culture.  This is directly tied into the fourth stanza in Under Ben Bulben.  Artwork is once again valued the older it is, as Michelangelo is the artist discussed.  The art that Ireland presently has is compared to that of the art of Michelangelo and the speaker essentially pleas with the Irish people to make more works like that of Michelangelo.  The art that was created, such as the Sistine Chapel, was considered art that gave meaning to life, and that is what the speaker wants out of the art of the present day.  He believes that art is the only thing that gives life definition and therefore the ancient type must be recreated, as it holds the most meaning.