登陆注册
4717800000020

第20章 THE SPIRIT OF CHIVALRY IN WESTMINSTER HALL(2)

For how can it be otherwise? Look up, upon the pressing throng who strive to win distinction from the Guardian Genius of all noble deeds and honourable renown,--a gentle Spirit, holding her fair state for their reward and recognition (do not be alarmed, my Lord Chamberlain; this is only in a picture); and say what young and ardent heart may not find one to beat in unison with it--beat high with generous aspiration like its own--in following their onward course, as it is traced by this great pencil! Is it the Love of Woman, in its truth and deep devotion, that inspires you? See it here! Is it Glory, as the world has learned to call the pomp and circumstance of arms? Behold it at the summit of its exaltation, with its mailed hand resting on the altar where the Spirit ministers. The Poet's laurel-crown, which they who sit on thrones can neither twine or wither--is that the aim of thy ambition? It is there, upon his brow; it wreathes his stately forehead, as he walks apart and holds communion with himself. The Palmer and the Bard are there; no solitary wayfarers, now; but two of a great company of pilgrims, climbing up to honour by the different paths that lead to the great end. And sure, amidst the gravity and beauty of them all-

-unseen in his own form, but shining in his spirit, out of every gallant shape and earnest thought--the Painter goes triumphant!

Or say that you who look upon this work, be old, and bring to it grey hairs, a head bowed down, a mind on which the day of life has spent itself, and the calm evening closes gently in. Is its appeal to you confined to its presentment of the Past? Have you no share in this, but while the grace of youth and the strong resolve of maturity are yours to aid you? Look up again. Look up where the spirit is enthroned, and see about her, reverend men, whose task is done; whose struggle is no more; who cluster round her as her train and council; who have lost no share or interest in that great rising up and progress, which bears upward with it every means of human happiness, but, true in Autumn to the purposes of Spring, are there to stimulate the race who follow in their steps; to contemplate, with hearts grown serious, not cold or sad, the striving in which they once had part; to die in that great Presence, which is Truth and Bravery, and Mercy to the Weak, beyond all power of separation.

It would be idle to observe of this last group that, both in execution and idea, they are of the very highest order of Art, and wonderfully serve the purpose of the picture. There is not one among its three-and-twenty heads of which the same remark might not be made. Neither will we treat of great effects produced by means quite powerless in other hands for such an end, or of the prodigious force and colour which so separate this work from all the rest exhibited, that it would scarcely appear to be produced upon the same kind of surface by the same description of instrument. The bricks and stones and timbers of the Hall itself are not facts more indisputable than these.

It has been objected to this extraordinary work that it is too elaborately finished; too complete in its several parts. And Heaven knows, if it be judged in this respect by any standard in the Hall about it, it will find no parallel, nor anything approaching to it.

But it is a design, intended to be afterwards copied and painted in fresco; and certain finish must be had at last, if not at first. It is very well to take it for granted in a Cartoon that a series of cross-lines, almost as rough and apart as the lattice-work of a garden summerhouse, represents the texture of a human face; but the face cannot be painted so. A smear upon the paper may be understood, by virtue of the context gained from what surrounds it, to stand for a limb, or a body, or a cuirass, or a hat and feathers, or a flag, or a boot, or an angel. But when the time arrives for rendering these things in colours on a wall, they must be grappled with, and cannot be slurred over in this wise. Great misapprehension on this head seems to have been engendered in the minds of some observers by the famous cartoons of Raphael; but they forget that these were never intended as designs for fresco painting. They were designs for tapestry-work, which is susceptible of only certain broad and general effects, as no one better knew than the Great Master. Utterly detestable and vile as the tapestry is, compared with the immortal Cartoons from which it was worked, it is impossible for any man who casts his eyes upon it where it hangs at Rome, not to see immediately the special adaptation of the drawings to that end, and for that purpose. The aim of these Cartoons being wholly different, Mr. Maclise's object, if we understand it, was to show precisely what he meant to do, and knew he could perform, in fresco, on a wall. And here his meaning is;

worked out; without a compromise of any difficulty; without the avoidance of any disconcerting truth; expressed in all its beauty, strength, and power.

To what end? To be perpetuated hereafter in the high place of the chief Senate-House of England? To be wrought, as it were, into the very elements of which that Temple is composed; to co-endure with it, and still present, perhaps, some lingering traces of its ancient Beauty, when London shall have sunk into a grave of grass-grown ruin,--and the whole circle of the Arts, another revolution of the mighty wheel completed, shall be wrecked and broken?

Let us hope so. We will contemplate no other possibility--at present.

同类推荐
  • LookingGlass

    LookingGlass

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说波斯匿王太后崩尘土坌身经

    佛说波斯匿王太后崩尘土坌身经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Jeanne d'Arc

    Jeanne d'Arc

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 苑洛集

    苑洛集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 青楼集

    青楼集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 《朱子语类》词汇研究

    《朱子语类》词汇研究

    《朱子语类》文白相间,新旧质素交融,叠置着从历史上各个时期传承下来的不同历史层次的词语和宋代产生的新词新义,现存各本的异文在某种程度上又反映了宋至明清的语言演变,为汉语文白演变和词汇史的研究提供了珍贵的语言实录。
  • 碧血倾心

    碧血倾心

    九州之上,碧血倾心,人情百态,身世浮沉。神秘莫测的江湖,浩瀚如烟的人情世故。天道不仁,人间不平,人生飘摇,那又如何?看透红尘,驾驭江湖,行侠仗义,威震华夏。为着复兴,洞察世事,驱使人情,玩味人间。
  • 阴司领路人

    阴司领路人

    阴司领路人至死不渝的是忘川河畔那株曼珠沙华的生生世世不得相见的孤单与落寞,却恰逢不在三界、不入六道、不经轮回的他,至此游三界,破六道,镇妖魔、收恶鬼、封亡灵……回首再望,管它人鬼殊途,已然地老天荒。
  • 联盟之天王巨星

    联盟之天王巨星

    他穿越回了过去,居然还多了一个莫名其妙的系统,要逼他打职业?林翰:系统有什么用?能给我个女朋友不?系统:电子竞技没有女朋友。林翰:靠!我就是饿死,死外边,从这里跳下去,也不会要你这辣鸡系统!系统:世界冠军要不要?林翰:真香!
  • 发展伦理研究

    发展伦理研究

    本书研究对象是发展伦理学,从两个向度展开,一是范式与理论研究,对发展伦理学的范式与基本理论问题进行哲学反思,力图呈现、拓展发展伦理学的主要范式、基本构架、基本视域等的构成特点及创新可能;一是现实与问题反思,以经过反思的发展伦理学为视域,对一些重大现实与理论问题进行哲学反思,力图呈现、拓展发展伦理学关注现实、反思现实、切入现实的可能张力。
  • 快穿之我是富二代

    快穿之我是富二代

    身为一个富二代,本来能好吃好喝、混吃等吃度过一生的李清明,结果被一个系统强行绑定了。好吧,这也许是他的命,他认了。可他慢慢发现,他可能绑定了一个假的系统?这也就算了,各路妖魔鬼怪像盯唐僧肉似的盯着他,是怎么一回事?李清明觉得自己流年不利,应该找个神庙拜拜。什么?你说不用找,我就是神?!……李清明:都别理我,让我静静。
  • 白话聊斋(上)

    白话聊斋(上)

    本书是节选《聊斋志异》中的白话文。书中人物大多是花妖狐魅,蒲松龄以他超凡的想象力和深刻的洞察力构筑起一个亦真亦幻、亦人亦鬼的幽冥世界。它是人间社会的真实投影,揭示了人世辛酸悲凉的生活场景和人物偃蹇惨痛的生活经历,是理想社会的梦幻体现。
  • 白马掠三国

    白马掠三国

    “义之所至,生死相随!苍天可鉴,白马为证!”当三国撞上了玄幻,当历史发生偏移,后世之人,穿梭上千年。气动山河,智定乾坤,这是一个力量扩大无数,高配版的三国时代。纵横捭阖的白马义从,迸发出了,属于它的....璀璨光华,并一直延续,贯彻了整个三国!这一世,我高郅将与泽袍一同偕行向前,义之所至,生死相随!
  • 相重世纪

    相重世纪

    就是那个它,创造了这个世界,丁克的父亲说。
  • 新概念作文获奖者作品精选范本·20周年特别纪念版(B卷)

    新概念作文获奖者作品精选范本·20周年特别纪念版(B卷)

    久负盛名的新概念作文大赛已经举办了二十年。这些一等奖得主后来有许多一直活跃在文学创作领域,他们既代表了新概念作文大赛的成就与风采,也可以说代表了当代中国青少年文学创作的超高水准。本丛书是历届一等奖获得者的全新作品集20周年特别纪念版,分为AB两卷。这些作品,激情飞扬,典雅动人,对于青春文学爱好者来说,是不可多得的阅读经典。新概念作文像一股春风给中国青少年文学创作注入了活力。它呈现出少男少女在成长蜕变过程中的美好和痛苦,也展现了一个丰富多彩的文字世界。通过阅读,对扩大青少年的阅读视野,丰富青少年的见识,以及提高文学素养、写作水平大有裨益。