ange fantastical conceits, not worthy to be called works
of Art.

... Coming to the libel, the Attorney-General said it had been
contended that Mr. Ruskin was not justified in interfering with a
man's livelihood. But why not? Then it was said, "Oh! you have
ridiculed Mr. Whistler's pictures." If Mr. Whistler disliked ridicule,
he should not have subjected himself to it by exhibiting publicly such
productions. If a man thought a picture was a daub[4] he had a right
to say so, without subjecting himself to a risk of an action.

[Note 4: "Now it is evident that in Rembrandt's
system, while the contrasts are not more right than with
Veronese, the colours are all wrong from beginning to
end."--JOHN RUSKIN, Art Authority.]

[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

"In conduct and in conversation,
It did a sinner good to hear
Him deal in ratiocination!"

[Illustration]]

He would not be able to call Mr. Ruskin, as he was far too ill to
attend; but, if he had been able to appear, he would have given
his opinion of Mr. Whistler's work in the witness-box.

He had the highest appreciation for _completed pictures_;[5] and he
required from an Artist that he should possess something more than a
few flashes of genius![6]

[Note 5: "I was pleased by a little unpretending
modern German picture at Dusseldorf, by Bosch,
representing a boy carving a model of his sheep dog in
wood."--J. RUSKIN: _Modern Painters_.]

[Note 6: "I have just said that every class of rock,
earth and cloud must be known by the painter with
geologic and meteorologic accuracy."--Slade Prof.
RUSKIN: _Modern Painters_.]

[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

"Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thyself
overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself!"
[Illustration]]

Mr. Ruskin entertaining those views, it was not wonderful that his
attention should be attracted to Mr. Whistler's pictures. He subjected
the pictures, if they chose,[7] to ridicule and contempt. Then Mr.
Ruskin spoke of "the ill-educated[8] conceit of the artist, so nearly
approaching the action of imposture." If his pictures were mere
extravagances, how could it redound to the cre