, he may affect, indirectly, some of his theories; and it is
certain that some of my historical generalisations have been modified,
and even demolished, by Mr. Fry. His task was not arduous: he had merely
to confront me with some work over which he was sure that I should go
into ecstasies, and then to prove by the most odious and irrefragable
evidence that it belonged to a period which I had concluded, on the
highest _a priori_ grounds, to be utterly barren. I can only hope that
Mr. Fry's scholarship has been as profitable to me as it has been
painful: I have travelled with him through France, Italy, and the near
East, suffering acutely, not always, I am glad to remember, in silence;
for the man who stabs a generalisation with a fact forfeits all claim on
good-fellowship and the usages of polite society.

I have to thank my friend Mr. Vernon Rendall for permission to make what
use I chose of the articles I have contributed from time to time to
_The Athenaeum_: if I have made any use of what belongs by law to the
proprietors of other papers I herewith offer the customary dues. My
readers will be as grateful as I to M. Vignier, M. Druet, and Mr.
Kevorkian, of the Persian Art Gallery, since it is they who have made it
certain that the purchaser will get something he likes for his money. To
Mr. Eric Maclagan of South Kensington, and Mr. Joyce of the British
Museum, I owe a more private and particular debt. My wife has been good
enough to read both the MS. and proof of this book; she has corrected
some errors, and called attention to the more glaring offences against
Christian charity. You must not attempt, therefore, to excuse the author
on the ground of inadvertence or haste.

CLIVE BELL.
November 1913.

CONTENTS

I. WHAT IS ART?

I. THE AESTHETIC HYPOTHESIS page 3

II. AESTHETICS AND POST-IMPRESSIONISM 38

III. THE METAPHYSICAL HYPOTHESIS 49

II. ART AND LIFE

I. ART AND RELIGION 75

II. ART AND HISTORY 95

III. ART AND ETHICS 106

III. THE CHRISTIAN SLOPE

I. THE RISE OF CHRISTIAN ART 121

II. GREATNESS AND DECLINE 138

III. THE CLASSICAL RENAISSANCE AND ITS
DISEASES 156

IV. ALID EX ALIO 181