Луна и грош

Chapter XLII

           "

           Heplacedapictureontheeasel,andletmelookatitforaminuteortwo;thentookitdownandputanotherinitsplace.Ithinkheshowedmeaboutthirtycanvases.Itwastheresultofthesixyearsduringwhichhehadbeenpainting.Hehadneversoldapicture.Thecanvaseswereofdifferentsizes.Thesmallerwerepicturesofstill-lifeandthelargestwerelandscapes.Therewereabouthalfadozenportraits.

           "Thatisthelot,"hesaidatlast.

           IwishIcouldsaythatIrecognisedatoncetheirbeautyandtheirgreatoriginality.NowthatIhaveseenmanyofthemagainandtherestarefamiliartomeinreproductions,IamastonishedthatatfirstsightIwasbitterlydisappointed.Ifeltnothingofthepeculiarthrillwhichitisthepropertyofarttogive.TheimpressionthatStrickland’spicturesgavemewasdisconcerting;andthefactremains,alwaystoreproachme,thatInevereventhoughtofbuyingany.Imissedawonderfulchance.Mostofthemhavefoundtheirwayintomuseums,andtherestarethetreasuredpossessionsofwealthyamateurs.Itrytofindexcusesformyself.Ithinkthatmytasteisgood,butIamconsciousthatithasnooriginality.Iknowverylittleaboutpainting,andIwanderalongtrailsthatothershaveblazedforme.AtthattimeIhadthegreatestadmirationfortheimpressionists.IlongedtopossessaSisleyandaDegas,andIworshippedManet.HisOlympiaseemedtomethegreatestpictureofmoderntimes,andLeDejeunersurl’Herbemovedmeprofoundly.Theseworksseemedtomethelastwordinpainting.

           IwillnotdescribethepicturesthatStricklandshowedme.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 187 из 284