CHAPTER I. _Truth in Painting._—Theory of 1

realism—The old masters as realists—And the Dutch painters—Absolute realism impossible—The real and truth defined—Art a series of signs—Recognizing the convention—In poetry, music, and painting—Grasping the artist’s intention—Realism merely the elaboration of the sign—Millet _vs._ Meissonier—Attitude of the realists—Kinds of truth—The camera _vs._ the human eye—Individual truths—National truths—Universal truths—Great art universal in scope—Greatness as shown in Rembrandt, Titian, and Velasquez—Art truths both great and small—Millet _vs._ Gérôme—Truth by suggestion—Michael Angelo and Shakespeare—The truth of history—And of archæology—The truth of art—The law of sacrifice, Velasquez _vs._ Bonnat—Realism not the sum-total of art—But its value not to be denied