Mr. Wentworth
Dead? A great masterpiece dead?
Joe
Of course. No man lives forever. Nobody that was ever born was useful enough to live forever. The bigger a man is the longer his influence is creative, in art and everything else, but the time always comes when his value is spent. When the world needs a new influence.
Silvia
It's really wonderful, Mr. Wentworth, how knowing the truth about art shows one the truth about other things. When I remember what I used to believe!
Mr. Wentworth
But see here, young man, you wouldn't do away with the Louvre, would you? Why, what would happen if these ideas were carried out....
Joe
No, I wouldn't do away with it. Why should I? If to burn it down would wake people up to life, I'd do it in a minute. But it wouldn't. They would only sanctify the superstition and make it immortal. No, leave the Louvre as it is. It's really quite useful.