UNCULTURED CRITICISM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 173, 22 July 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

UNCULTURED CRITICISM.

That Yankee fanner had a soul for art who declared, after long contemplation of Millet's "Shepherdess" and her flock of sheep, "It is all there but the bleat."

Not all critics are equally appreciative. Millet, peasant and painter of peasants, induced by the obtuseness of the most famous critics of his day toward natural and unromanticised ait, once held the theory that trained criticism was valueless —that it was spoiled by the very fact of training. The general public, he thought, knew better than the critics; and his own art in particular could be best judged by those whose life and labours it portrayed.

He was expounding this idea one day to a friend while his latest picture, entitled "Ruth and Boaz," representing a modern parallel to the Biblical story, stood conspicuously on the easel in his cottage studio at Barbizon. Just then a peasant called trpon some errand, and upon entering the room burst out laughing. Millet wished to know -why lie Istnglicd.

"Good gracious, Monsieur Millet," was the reply, "I'm laughing at your picture!"

"My picture.!" exekimed Millet. "What is the matter k with itf

"It is so funny!" exclaimed the man, gazing delightedly at tihe pictured peasant bearing her barley sheaves. "Yob have hit it off so well!"

"Hit off what?" inquired the bewildered artist.

"Why, you have painted bo capitally that constable arresting the girl for stealing a bunch of garlic!"

Millet's theories of art remained unaffected, but his ideas concerning criticism underwent a sudden change.