Портрет Доріана Грея

           "Heisallmyarttomenow,"saidthepainter,gravely. "Isometimesthink,Harry,thatthereareonlytwoerasofanyimportanceintheworld’shistory. Thefirstistheappearanceofanewmediumforart,andthesecondistheappearanceofanewpersonalityforartalso. Whattheinventionofoil-paintingwastotheVenetians,thefaceofAntinoüswastolateGreeksculpture,andthefaceofDorianGraywillsomedaybetome. ItisnotmerelythatIpaintfromhim,drawfromhim,sketchfromhim.OfcourseIhavedoneallthat.Butheismuchmoretomethanamodelorasitter. Iwon’ttellyouthatIamdissatisfiedwithwhatIhavedoneofhim,orthathisbeautyissuchthatArtcannotexpressit. ThereisnothingthatArtcannotexpress,andIknowthattheworkIhavedone,sinceImetDorianGray,isgoodwork,isthebestworkofmylife. Butinsomecuriousway—Iwonderwillyouunderstandme?—hispersonalityhassuggestedtomeanentirelynewmannerinart,anentirelynewmodeofstyle. Iseethingsdifferently,Ithinkofthemdifferently.Icannowrecreatelifeinawaythatwashiddenfromme,before. ‘Adreamofformindaysofthought:’—whoisitwhosaysthat?Iforget;butitiswhatDorianGrayhasbeentome. Themerelyvisiblepresenceofthislad—forheseemstomelittlemorethanalad,thoughheisreallyovertwenty—hismerelyvisiblepresence—ah! Iwondercanyourealiseallthatthatmeans? Unconsciouslyhedefinesformethelinesofafreshschool,aschoolthatistohaveinitallthepassionoftheromanticspirit,alltheperfectionofthespiritthatisGreek. Theharmonyofsoulandbody—howmuchthatis! Weinourmadnesshaveseparatedthetwo,andhaveinventedarealismthatisvulgar,anidealitythatisvoid. Harry!ifyouonlyknewwhatDorianGrayistome!