Tender Plants
Prince Albert regretted the destructive power of the Art Critic.
May 3 1951
Queen Victoria 1837-1901
Prince Albert regretted the destructive power of the Art Critic.
May 3 1951
Queen Victoria 1837-1901
On May 3rd, 1851, Prince Albert spoke at a dinner in honour of the recently elected President of the Royal Academy, Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793-1865). The present company, the Prince admitted, were better placed to judge Sir Charles as an artist. But thanks to working closely so with him, he had learnt something about their new President that they might not know: how kindly he dealt with other artists.
Gentlemen, the production of all works in art or poetry requires, in their conception and execution, not only an exercise of the intellect, skill, and patience, but particularly a concurrent warmth of feeling and a free flow of imagination. This renders them most tender plants, which will thrive only in an atmosphere calculated to maintain that warmth, and that atmosphere is one of kindness — kindness towards the artist personally as well as towards his production. An unkind word of criticism passes like a cold blast over their tender shoots, and shrivels them up, checking the flow of the sap, which was rising to produce, perhaps, multitudes of flowers and fruit. But still criticism is absolutely necessary to the development of art, and the injudicious praise of an inferior work becomes an insult to superior genius.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
What metaphor does Albert use to describe unkind criticism?
A frosty wind that blights young shoots.
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Artists are sensitive. Harsh criticism discourages them.
See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.
IKind. IIMotivate. IIISkin.