--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An artist can be truly evaluated only…" description: "\"An artist can be truly evaluated only after he is dead. At the very 11th hour, he might do something that will eclipse everything else.\" — Van Cliburn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/van-cliburn-42338_11th-hour_an-artist-can-be-truly-evaluated-only-af_87951.png" --- # An artist can be truly evaluated only after he is dead. At… ![“An artist can be truly evaluated only after he is dead. At the very 11th hour, he might do something that will eclipse everything else.” quote by Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/van-cliburn-42338_11th-hour_an-artist-can-be-truly-evaluated-only-af_87951.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/van-cliburn-42338_11th-hour_an-artist-can-be-truly-evaluated-only-af_87951.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/van-cliburn-42338_11th-hour_an-artist-can-be-truly-evaluated-only-af_87951.png) > “An artist can be truly evaluated only after he is dead. At the very 11th hour, he might do something that will eclipse everything else.” [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Posthumous evaluation often reveals an artist's true impact, as later works can eclipse earlier achievements. **In simple terms:** Legacy judged after death Key Takeaway Later work can reshape reputation Themes legacy evaluation artistic merit posthumous fame Mood reflective melancholic Type observation maxim When to use this quote - art criticism - museum curation - biographical writing Key Concepts critical reassessment cultural memory Practical Applications - museum exhibition planning - academic research Questions to Reflect On - How does time alter our perception of art? - Can an artist control their posthumous reputation? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Eclipse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eclipse/) ## Related quotes > [An artist can only be evaluated after he's dead. At the 11th hour he might do something that will eclipse everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/an-artist-can-only-be-evaluated-after-he-s-dead-at-the-11th-hour-he/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [A great chef is an artist that I truly respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stack/a-great-chef-is-an-artist-that-i-truly-respect/) [Robert Stack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stack/) > [Does an artist truly need to understand her times in order to create? I'm not sure. We're all sitting in a context. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-genn/does-an-artist-truly-need-to-understand-her-times-in-order-to-create/) [Sara Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-genn/) > [An artist, if he is truly an artist, is only interested in one thing and that is to wake up the minds of men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-gaye/an-artist-if-he-is-truly-an-artist-is-only-interested-in-one-thing/) [Marvin Gaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-gaye/) > [Nature is garrulous to the point of confusion, let the artist be truly taciturn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/nature-is-garrulous-to-the-point-of-confusion-let-the-artist-be-truly/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Few people know that I am also an artist; I truly enjoy sketching and drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/few-people-know-that-i-am-also-an-artist-i-truly-enjoy-sketching-and/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccrae/the-larks-still-bravely-singing-fly-scarce-heard-amid-the-guns-below/) [John McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccrae/) > [We must quickly mobilize our civilization with the urgency and resolve that has previously been seen only when nations mobilized for war. These prior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/we-must-quickly-mobilize-our-civilization-with-the-urgency-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [We cheerfully assume that in some mystic way love conquers all, that good outweighs evil in the just balances of the universe and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/we-cheerfully-assume-that-in-some-mystic-way-love-conquers-all-that/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) > [Unfortunately, too often the media doesn't ask the simple question: Why did elected leaders wait until the 11th hour to address government funding we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/unfortunately-too-often-the-media-doesn-t-ask-the-simple-question-why/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [The greatest weapon of mass destruction is corporate economic globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ausubel/the-greatest-weapon-of-mass-destruction-is-corporate-economic/) [Kenny Ausubel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ausubel/) > [We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccrae/we-lived-felt-dawn-saw-sunset-glow-loved-and-were-loved-and-now-we/) [John McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccrae/) > [“While there, I was asked to be interviewed for The 11th Hour, a documentary about the state of the global environment produced by Leonardo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-watt-cloutier/while-there-i-was-asked-to-be-interviewed-for-the-11th-hour-a/) [Sheila Watt-Cloutier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-watt-cloutier/) > [In Flanders fields the poppies blow,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccrae/in-flanders-fields-the-poppies-blow/) [John McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccrae/) > [“The man who decided to die on 12th hour,dies on 11th hour...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hlovate/the-man-who-decided-to-die-on-12th-hour-dies-on-11th-hour/) Hlovate ## More by Van Cliburn > [An artist can only be evaluated after he's dead. At the 11th hour he might do something that will eclipse everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/an-artist-can-only-be-evaluated-after-he-s-dead-at-the-11th-hour-he/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [Music is like painting in sound. You take it into your inner heart and never lose it. It's eternally mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/music-is-like-painting-in-sound-you-take-it-into-your-inner-heart-and/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [If you hold onto the beauty and inspiration and the clarity that is music, you will have an anchor, you will not be too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/if-you-hold-onto-the-beauty-and-inspiration-and-the-clarity-that-is/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [But classical music is not entertainment, and I feel viciously strong about that. Classical music is forever. Entertainment is something that is here today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/but-classical-music-is-not-entertainment-and-i-feel-viciously-strong/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [I'm not a success, I'm a sensation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/i-m-not-a-success-i-m-a-sensation/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [The brick of my life is music, but the mortar is faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/the-brick-of-my-life-is-music-but-the-mortar-is-faith/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [The Steinway piano - with its beauty and power - is the perfect medium for expressing the performer's art, drama and poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/the-steinway-piano-with-its-beauty-and-power-is-the-perfect-medium/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [Everything I chose, I had already played in concert. For the competition, I wanted to pick pieces I know that people like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/everything-i-chose-i-had-already-played-in-concert-for-the/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [I have never known anyone from Texas, no matter how far they go or what they do, who isn't proud of being from Texas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/i-have-never-known-anyone-from-texas-no-matter-how-far-they-go-or/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) [Explore all 10 Van Cliburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) ## More 11th hour quotes > [“The man who decided to die on 12th hour,dies on 11th hour...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hlovate/the-man-who-decided-to-die-on-12th-hour-dies-on-11th-hour/) Hlovate > [An artist can only be evaluated after he's dead. At the 11th hour he might do something that will eclipse everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-cliburn/an-artist-can-only-be-evaluated-after-he-s-dead-at-the-11th-hour-he/) [Van Cliburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-cliburn/) > [In Flanders fields the poppies blow,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccrae/in-flanders-fields-the-poppies-blow/) [John McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccrae/) > [“While there, I was asked to be interviewed for The 11th Hour, a documentary about the state of the global environment produced by Leonardo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-watt-cloutier/while-there-i-was-asked-to-be-interviewed-for-the-11th-hour-a/) [Sheila Watt-Cloutier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-watt-cloutier/) > [We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccrae/we-lived-felt-dawn-saw-sunset-glow-loved-and-were-loved-and-now-we/) [John McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccrae/) > [The greatest weapon of mass destruction is corporate economic globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ausubel/the-greatest-weapon-of-mass-destruction-is-corporate-economic/) [Kenny Ausubel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ausubel/) > [Unfortunately, too often the media doesn't ask the simple question: Why did elected leaders wait until the 11th hour to address government funding we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/unfortunately-too-often-the-media-doesn-t-ask-the-simple-question-why/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We cheerfully assume that in some mystic way love conquers all, that good outweighs evil in the just balances of the universe and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/we-cheerfully-assume-that-in-some-mystic-way-love-conquers-all-that/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) > [We must quickly mobilize our civilization with the urgency and resolve that has previously been seen only when nations mobilized for war. These prior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/we-must-quickly-mobilize-our-civilization-with-the-urgency-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccrae/the-larks-still-bravely-singing-fly-scarce-heard-amid-the-guns-below/) [John McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccrae/) > [Now comes the threat of climate crisis - a threat that is real, rising, imminent, and universal. Once again, it is the 11th hour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/now-comes-the-threat-of-climate-crisis-a-threat-that-is-real-rising/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [It's not just global warming, it's not just a loss of biodiversity, it's not just the pollution of our oceans and the clearing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/it-s-not-just-global-warming-it-s-not-just-a-loss-of-biodiversity-it/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [What if we choose to eradicate ourselves from this Earth by whatever means? The Earth goes nowhere. And in time, it will regenerate. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-lyons/what-if-we-choose-to-eradicate-ourselves-from-this-earth-by-whatever/) [Oren Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-lyons/) > [Don't plan to repent at the 11th hour - you may die at 10:30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/don-t-plan-to-repent-at-the-11th-hour-you-may-die-at-10-30/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [I just never, ever want to give up. Most battles are won in the 11th hour, and most people give up. If you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-gordon-pugh/i-just-never-ever-want-to-give-up-most-battles-are-won-in-the-11th/) [Lewis Gordon Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-gordon-pugh/) Browse all 16 11th hour quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An artist can be truly evaluated only after he is dead. 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