The architecture of humanism; a study in the history of taste

CHAPTER

IX

ART ANDTHOUGHT

I

I

Thought, whose

claim

is to

enlighten,

has for a

centuryserved todull the taste forarchitecture,

if

the

vision ofherhistoryithas spaciously

enlarged.

Thatperceptionof thebeautiful,whichtoasimple

viewwas

clear,has,bythoughtitself,

beendarkened.

Taste, theveryfunctionforwhosesakeit is worth

while to

criticise, criticism

has

aided

to destroy.

For criticism has changed. Once buoyant

upon

ignorance,itnowis

heavywithunheard-oflearning.

Oncetheflattererofaking,itisnowthe

pedagogue

without

inspiration of

a scholar without impulse.

Itwastheplumeupon thecrestofart

;

now,

with

longbutleadenshackles, itclings

aboutitsfeet.

ArchitectureinArcadian

dayswasthemistress

of

Taste, and arrayed herself, forher lover,

in artful

yetunconsciousbeauty. Taste,
withaskillno
less

unconscious, knew

how towin, andcould

enjoyher

charms. Healteredhismoods

tothevarietyofhers,

which,indeed,wereinfinite,
buttohimall
pleasing.

Criticism wasthe Nurse in this old
play

—

asmall

2U