Chapter XLIV

           

           Acertainimportanceattachestotheviewsonartofpainters,andthisisthenaturalplaceformetosetdownwhatIknowofStrickland’sopinionsofthegreatartistsofthepast.IamafraidIhaveverylittleworthnoting.Stricklandwasnotaconversationalist,andhehadnogiftforputtingwhathehadtosayinthestrikingphrasethatthelistenerremembers.Hehadnowit.Hishumour,aswillbeseenifIhaveinanywaysucceededinreproducingthemannerofhisconversation,wassardonic.Hisreparteewasrude.Hemadeonelaughsometimesbyspeakingthetruth,butthisisaformofhumourwhichgainsitsforceonlybyitsunusualness;itwouldceasetoamuseifitwerecommonlypractised.

           Stricklandwasnot,Ishouldsay,amanofgreatintelligence,andhisviewsonpaintingwerebynomeansoutoftheordinary.Ineverheardhimspeakofthosewhoseworkhadacertainanalogywithhisown—ofCezanne,forinstance,orofVanGogh;andIdoubtverymuchifhehadeverseentheirpictures.HewasnotgreatlyinterestedintheImpressionists.Theirtechniqueimpressedhim,butIfancythathethoughttheirattitudecommonplace.WhenStroevewasholdingforthatlengthontheexcellenceofMonet,hesaid:"IpreferWinterhalter."ButIdaresayhesaidittoannoy,andifhedidhecertainlysucceeded.

           IamdisappointedthatIcannotreportanyextravagancesinhisopinionsontheoldmasters.ThereissomuchinhischaracterwhichisstrangethatIfeelitwouldcompletethepictureifhisviewswereoutrageous.

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