# The meaning of pictures

Author: Van Dyke, John C., 1856-1932

Genre: Category: Art

Language: English

License: Public domain

Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/72598

Amazon editions: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+meaning+of+pictures+Van+Dyke&tag=cyberlibrar00-20

## Summary

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._ B...

## Chapters

- [CHAPTER I](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/7/index.md)
- [CHAPTER II](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/8/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VI](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/12/index.md)
- [CHAPTER IV](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/10/index.md)
- [CHAPTER III](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/9/index.md)
- [CHAPTER V](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/11/index.md)
- [CHAPTER VI. _Subject in Painting._—Art for the 139](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/6/index.md)
- [CHAPTER V. _The Decorative Quality._—Disagreement 114](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/5/index.md)
- [CHAPTER IV. _Pictorial Poetry._—The argument for 87](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/4/index.md)
- [CHAPTER III. _Imagination of the Artist._—The act 60](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/3/index.md)
- [CHAPTER I. _Truth in Painting._—Theory of 1](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/1/index.md)
- [CHAPTER II. _Individuality or the Personal 31](https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-meaning-of-pictures-72598/chapters/2/index.md)