"It is art you are in pursuit of, not pomps and vanities? Then keep
clear of Fairfield. The first thing for success in imaginative work is a
soul unruffled: what manner of work could you do to-day? You will never
paint a stroke the better for anything Lady Latimer can do for you; but
lay yourself open to the chafe and fret of her patronage now, and you
are done for. Ten, twenty years hence, she will be harmless, because you
will have the confidence of a name."
"And she will remember that she bought my first sketch; she will say she
made me," said young Christie.
"You will not care then: everybody knows that a man makes himself.
Phipps calls her vain-glorious; Carnegie calls her the very core of
goodness. In either case you don't need her. There is only one patron
for men of art and literature in these days, and that is the General
Public. The times are gone by for waiting in Chesterfield's ante-room
and hiding behind Cave's screen."
Harry recited all this for Bessie's instruction. Bessie was convinced
that he had spoken judiciously: the safest way to avoid a fall is not to
be in too much haste to climb. It is more consistent with self-respect
for genius in low estate to defend its independence against the assaults
of rich patrons, seeking appendages to their glory, than to accept their
benefits, and complain that they are given with insolence. It is an
evident fact that the possessors of rank and money value themselves as
of more consequence than those whom God has endowed with other gifts and
not with these.
Pages:
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109