Chapter I

           

           IconfessthatwhenfirstImadeacquaintancewithCharlesStricklandIneverforamomentdiscernedthattherewasinhimanythingoutoftheordinary.Yetnowfewwillbefoundtodenyhisgreatness.Idonotspeakofthatgreatnesswhichisachievedbythefortunatepoliticianorthesuccessfulsoldier;thatisaqualitywhichbelongstotheplaceheoccupiesratherthantotheman;andachangeofcircumstancesreducesittoverydiscreetproportions.ThePrimeMinisteroutofofficeisseen,toooften,tohavebeenbutapompousrhetorician,andtheGeneralwithoutanarmyisbutthetameheroofamarkettown.ThegreatnessofCharlesStricklandwasauthentic.Itmaybethatyoudonotlikehisart,butatalleventsyoucanhardlyrefuseitthetributeofyourinterest.Hedisturbsandarrests.Thetimehaspassedwhenhewasanobjectofridicule,anditisnolongeramarkofeccentricitytodefendorofperversitytoextolhim.Hisfaultsareacceptedasthenecessarycomplementtohismerits.Itisstillpossibletodiscusshisplaceinart,andtheadulationofhisadmirersisperhapsnolesscapriciousthanthedisparagementofhisdetractors;butonethingcanneverbedoubtful,andthatisthathehadgenius.Tomymindthemostinterestingthinginartisthepersonalityoftheartist;andifthatissingular,Iamwillingtoexcuseathousandfaults.IsupposeVelasquezwasabetterpainterthanElGreco,butcustomstalesone’sadmirationforhim:theCretan,sensualandtragic,proffersthemysteryofhissoullikeastandingsacrifice.

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