The Pre-Raphaelites by Robert de la Sizeranne

Author:Robert de la Sizeranne [Sizeranne, Robert de la]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781783103270
Publisher: Parkstone International
Published: 2014-03-12T04:00:00+00:00

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Horatio Discovering

the Madness of Ophelia, c. 1864.

Oldham Gallery, Oldham.

III. Intentions

What then does such a singular art aim at? Obviously something other than merely pleasing the eyes. “You will find that the art whose end is pleasure only,” says Ruskin, “is pre-eminently the gift of cruel and savage nations, cruel in temper, savage in habits and conception; but that the art which is especially dedicated to natural fact always indicates a peculiar gentleness and tenderness of mind.” “The greatest art creates beauty, but does not make beauty its purpose,” adds Collingwood. Thus English painting has a goal that can shed some light on its distinctive features, an idea behind the face or the painting that explains its flaws, a programme which is not that of depicting beautiful torsos and rich draperies. One is convinced, when looking at these masters’ works, as when reading those of their critics, that this extra-aesthetic goal has a high place, perhaps the highest, among their preoccupations.

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