To say of a picture, as is often said in its praise, that…
“To say of a picture, as is often said in its praise, that it shows great and earnest labour, is to say that it is incomplete and unfit for view.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He critiques that praising a picture’s effort without acknowledging its incompleteness renders the praise meaningless.
In simple terms: Praising effort alone ignores the need for completeness.
Balance effort with finished quality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- gallery curation
- art education
- artist self‑assessment
- exhibition planning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we value effort versus final result?
- When is incompleteness acceptable in art?
May undervalue the value of process over product.