Appearance Quote by Rutherford B. Hayes
![“He [William Merritt Chase] is, I suspect, getting a very truthful likeness. I would like it better if [it] was not so gray, so cramped about the eyes, and not quite so corpulent. But is this not quarreling with nature?” quote by Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aba/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_appearance_he-william-merritt-chase-is-i-suspect-ge_2425584.jpg)
“He [William Merritt Chase] is, I suspect, getting a very truthful likeness. I would like it better if [it] was not so gray, so cramped about the eyes, and not quite so corpulent. But is this not quarreling with nature?”
About This Quote
Source Letter on Art Critique, 1885
The portrait is realistic but overly gray and cramped, seeming to clash with natural form.
In simple terms: The painting feels too dark and constrained, contrary to nature.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between realism and aesthetic harmony.
Themes
art
critique
aesthetics
nature
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
artistic
critical
When to use this quote
- gallery curation
- art education
- personal studio work
Key Concepts
painting technique
color theory
visual composition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal taste affect art criticism?
- What is the role of naturalism in portraiture?
A Different Perspective
The critique may be overly subjective, ignoring artistic intent.
![“My father and mother in 1817 were forty-nine days on the road with their emigrant wagons [from Vermont] to Ohio. More than two days for each hour that I spent in the same journey.” quote by Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/290/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_father_my-father-and-mother-in-1817-were-forty_289081.jpg)
