Oracles

SONNET FOR A PICTURE “ ‘ ποικιλοθρον’ , ἀθανατ’ ’ Αφροδιτα. ” Σαπφω. “—We have seen Gold tarnished, and the gray above—” —SWINBURNE. AS some lone mountebank of the stage may tweak The noses of his fellows, so Gavin Tweaks with her brush-work the absurd obscene Academicians. How her pictures speak ! Chiaroscuro Rembrandtesque, form Greek ! What values ! What a composition clean ! Breadth shaming broadness ! Manner epicine ! Texture superb ! Magnificent technique ! Raphael, Velasquez, Michael Angelo, Stare, gape, and splutter when they see thy colour, Reds killing roses, greens blaspheming grass. O thou art simply perfect, don’t you know ? Than thee all masters of old time are duller, O artiste of the Quartier Montparnasse ! [This parody on the style of my own poems on the Art of Rodin was written to furnish the subject of it with a critical eulogium for domestic use. May she forgive one who has not less a sincere admiration for her work be-cause he is capable of a jest at its expense !—A. C.] 162