Tenderness in Tite Street
TO THE POET:
Oscar—I have read your exquisite article in the Pall Mall. Nothing is more delicate, in the flattery of “the Poet” to “the Painter,” than the naïveté of “the Poet,” in the choice of his Painters—Benjamin West and Paul Delaroche!
The World.
You have pointed out that “the Painter’s” mission is to find “le beau dans l’horrible,” and have left to “the Poet” the discovery of “l’horrible” dans “le beau”!
Chelsea. Butterfly
TO THE PAINTER:
Dear Butterfly—By the aid of a biographical dictionary, I made the discovery that there were once two painters, called Benjamin West and The World.
Paul Delaroche, who rashly lectured upon Art. As of their works nothing at all remains, I conclude that they explained themselves away.
REFLECTION:
I do know a bird, who, like Oscar, with his head in the sand, still believes in the undiscovered!
If to be misunderstood is to be great, it was rash in Oscar to reveal the source of his inspirations: the “Biographical Dictionary!”
Be warned in time, James; and remain, as I do, incomprehensible. To be great is to be misunderstood.—Tout à vous,
OSCAR WILDE.