Words of Wisdom: Clausen and Gérôme – Art for Art's Sake

If "art for art's sake" means for truth's sake, or for beauty's sake - to express nature as well, and with as good workmanship as one can, one cannot have a better motto ;  but if it means that the object of painting is simply to get, or display, fine technical qualities, then I think it is altogether the wrong way about, like putting the cart before the horse.  The French painter Gerome once told a pupil that "painting for the sake of painting was like speaking for the sake of talking :  to paint well," said he, "one must have something to say."¹