XVI

The first merit of a picture is to feast the eyes. I don't mean that

the intellectual element is not also necessary; it is as with fine

poetry ... all the intellect in the world won't prevent it from being bad

if it grates harshly on the ear. We talk of having an ear; so it is not

every eye which is fitted to enjoy the subtleties of painting. Many people

have a false eye or an indolent eye; they can see objects literally, but

the exquisite is beyond them.

_Delacroix._

The mind of the artist · 第 24 / 298 题