CHAPTER III

THE MISSION OF BEAUTY

Science consists in extracting the element of happiness from everything, first of all from oneself—Beauty a social duty—Charm has no physical rules—Women slight or the reverse; blondes; the skin, the eyes—Corporeal beauty—Michelangelo and Dürer—Portraits of women as Venus—Prudence of women—Artists and their fancies—Jeanne of Aragon—Margaret of France—Receptions in the morning—The ‘Innocents’—Art of retaining youth, or of restoring youthfulness—A lady’s toilette—Fashion—Spiritual significance of colours—Luxury—Architecture—Taste for fine furniture. Pages 194-227