Modern French Masters

MODERN FRENCH MASTERS
BY MARIE VAN VORST WITH PREFACE BY ALEXANDER HARRISON PARIS BRENTANO’S 37 AVENUE DE L’OPERA AND UNION SQUARE, NEW YORK 1904 Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. At the Ballantyne Press
IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION OF THE HOSPITALITY OF THE PALL MALL MAGAZINE I INSCRIBE THIS COLLECTION OF ESSAYS WHICH HAVE ALREADY APPEARED IN ITS PAGES TO MY FRIEND GEORGE R. HALKETT
Paris, 1904 90 Rue de Varenne

The source of art is the fountain of Love: the winged spirits, Painting, Sculpture, and Poetry, spring from it hand in hand. With affectionate leave-takings and cries of joy at their liberation, they soar into space, the angel of Music out-winging the rest because of more lambent fibre, but she is no more vital nor pulsating than her sisters.
Genius is Love, Talent is the sure perception of essentials combined with the power of expression. Talent, coupled with genius, produces the Love-Child that men call a Masterpiece.
The love-child in Art is the most perfect of all human creations, whether the artist lover be conventional or academic, or rebellious against form and schools, or capricious and eccentric. Emerson said: “Write above your door the word, ‘ Whim .’” This, Alfred Stevens, Besnard, Dégas, and the great sculptor Carries would have applauded, and above all—Whistler!