I insist upon mural painting for three reasons--first, because it is an
exercise of art which demands the absolute knowledge only to be obtained
by honest study, the value of which no one can doubt, whatever branch of
art the student might choose to follow afterwards; secondly, because the
practice would bring out that gravity and nobility deficient in the
English school, but not in the English character, and which being latent
might therefore be brought out; and, thirdly, for the sake of action
upon the public mind. For public improvement it is necessary that works
of sterling but simple excellence should be scattered abroad as widely
as possible. At present the public never see anything beautiful
excepting in exhibition rooms, when the novelty of sight-seeing
naturally disturbs the intellectual perceptions. It is a melancholy fact
that scarcely a single object amongst those that surround us has any
pretension to real beauty, or could be put simply into a picture with
noble effect. And as I believe the love of beauty to be inherent in the
human mind, it follows that there must be some unfortunate influence at
work; to counteract this should be the object of a fine-art institution,
and I feel assured if really good things were scattered amongst the
people, it would not be long before satisfactory results exhibited
themselves.
_G. F. Watts._