420 USE AXD BEAUTY. 



but now purely ornamental heraldic symbols ; the monks, 

 nuns, and convents, that give interest to a certain class of 

 novels ; the bronze mediaeval soldiers used for embellishing 

 drawing-rooms ; the gilt Apollos that recline on time- 

 pieces; the narratives that serve as plots for our great 

 dramas ; and the events that afford subjects for historical 

 pictures ; — these and such like illustrations of the metamor- 

 phosis of the useful into the beautiful, are so numerous as 

 to suggest that, did we search diligently enough, we should 

 find that in some place, or under some circumstances, 

 nearly every notable product of the past has assumed a de- 

 corative character. 



And here the mention of historical pictures reminds me 

 that an inference may be drawn from all this, bearing 

 directly on the practice of art. It has of late years been a 

 frequent criticism upon our historical painters, that they 

 err in choosing their subjects from the past ; and that, 

 would they found a genuine and vital school, they must 

 render on canvas the life and deeds and aims of our own 

 time. If, however, there be any significance in the fore- 

 going facts, it seems doubtful whether this criticism is a 

 just one. For if it be the process of thin'gs, that what has 

 performed some practical function in society during one 

 era, becomes available for ornament in a subsequent one ; 

 it .almost follows that, conversely, whatever is perform- 

 ing some practical function now, or has very recently 

 performed one, does not possess the ornamental charac- 

 ter ; and is, consequently, inapplicable to any purpose of 

 which beauty is the aim, or of which it is a needful in- 

 gredient. 



Still more reasonable will this conclusion appear, when 

 we consider the nature of this process by which the useful 

 is changed into the ornamental. An essential pre-requisite 

 to all beauty is contrast. To obtain artistic effect, light 

 must be put in juxtaposition with shade, bright colours 



