"
That the chief merit of a picture is its truth, is an assertion
deplorably erroneous. Even in Painting, which is, more essentially
than Poetry, a mimetic art, the proposition cannot be sustained. Truth
is not even the aim. Indeed it is curious to observe how very slight a
degree of truth is sufficient to satisfy the mind, which acquiesces in
the absence of numerous essentials in the thing depicted. An outline
frequently stirs the spirit more pleasantly than the most elaborate
picture. We need only refer to the compositions of Flaxman and of
Retzsch. Here all details are omitted- nothing can be farther from
truth. Without even colour the most thrilling effects are produced. In
statues we are rather pleased than disgusted with the want of the
eyeball. The hair of the Venus de Medicis was gilded. Truth indeed!
The grapes of Zeuxis as well as the curtain of Parrhasius were
received as indisputable evidence of the truthful ability of these
artists- but they were not even classed among their pictures. If truth
is the highest aim of either Painting or Poesy, then Jan Steen was a
greater artist than Angelo, and Crabbe is a nobler poet than Milton.
But we have not quoted the observation of Mr. Langtree to deny its
philosophy; our design was simply to show that he has misunderstood
the poet. "Excelsior" has not even a remote tendency to the
interpretation assigned it by the critic.
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