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The Moon and Sixpence
it is colourless and dull。 Mr。 Strickland has drawn the portrait of an
excellent husband and father； a man of kindly temper； industrious habits；
and moral disposition。 The modern clergyman has acquired in his study
of the science which I believe is called exegesis an astonishing facility for
explaining things away； but the subtlety with which the Rev。 Robert
Strickland has 〃interpreted〃 all the facts in his father's life which a dutiful
son might find it inconvenient to remember must surely lead him in the
fullness of time to the highest dignities of the Church。 I see already his
muscular calves encased in the gaiters episcopal。 It was a hazardous；
though maybe a gallant thing to do； since it is probable that the legend
commonly received has had no small share in the growth of Strickland's
reputation； for there are many who have been attracted to his art by the
detestation in which they held his character or the compassion with which
they regarded his death； and the son's well…meaning efforts threw a
singular chill upon the father's admirers。 It is due to no accident that
when one of his most important works； ；＇4＇
was sold at Christie's shortly after the discussion which followed the
publication of Mr。 Strickland's biography； it fetched POUNDS 235 less
than it had done nine months before when it was bought by the
distinguished collector whose sudden death had brought it once more
under the hammer。 Perhaps Charles Strickland's power and originality
would scarcely have sufficed to turn the scale if the remarkable
mythopoeic faculty of mankind had not brushed aside with impatience a
story which disappointed all its craving for the extraordinary。 And
presently Dr。 Weitbrecht…Rotholz produced the work which finally set at
rest the misgivings of all lovers of art。
＇3＇ 〃Strickland： The Man and His Work；〃 by his son； Robert
Strickland。 Wm。 Heinemann； 1913。
＇4＇ This was described in Christie's catalogue as follows： 〃A nude
woman； a native of the Society Islands； is lying on the ground beside a
brook。 Behind is a tropical Landscape with palm…trees； bananas； etc。
60 in。 x 48 in。〃
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The Moon and Sixpence
Dr。 Weitbrecht…Rotholz belongs to that school of historians which
believes that human nature is not only about as bad as it can be； but a great
deal worse； and certainly the reader is safer of entertainment in their hands
than in those of the writers who take a malicious pleasure in representing
the great figures of romance as patterns of the domestic virtues。 For my
part； I should be sorry to think that there was nothing between Anthony
and Cleopatra but an economic situation； and it will require a great deal
more evidence than is ever likely to be available； thank God； to persuade
me that Tiberius was as blameless a monarch as King George V。 Dr。
Weitbrecht…Rotholz has dealt in such terms with the Rev。 Robert
Strickland's innocent biography that it is difficult to avoid feeling a certain
sympathy for the unlucky parson。 His decent reticence is branded as
hypocrisy； his circumlocutions are roundly called lies； and his silence is
vilified as treachery。 And on the strength of peccadillos； reprehensible in
an author； but excusable in a son； the Anglo…Saxon race is accused of
prudishness； humbug； pretentiousness； deceit； cunning； and bad cooking。
Personally I think it was rash of Mr。 Strickland； in refuting the account
which had gained belief of a certain 〃unpleasantness〃 between his father
and mother； to state that Charles Strickland in a letter written from Paris
had described her as 〃an excellent woman；〃 since Dr。 Weitbrecht…Rotholz
was able to print the letter in facsimile； and it appears that the passage
referred to ran in fact as follows： It is not thus that the Church
in its great days dealt with evidence that was unwelcome。
Dr。 Weitbrecht…Rotholz was an enthusiastic admirer of Charles
Strickland； and there was no danger that he would whitewash him。 He had
an unerring eye for the despicable motive in actions that had all the
appearance of innocence。 He was a psycho…pathologist； as well as a
student of art； and the subconscious had few secrets from him。 No
mystic ever saw deeper meaning in common things。 The mystic sees the
ineffable； and the psycho…pathologist the unspeakable。 There is a singular
fascination in watching the eagerness with which the learned author ferrets
out every circumstance which may throw discredit on his hero。 His heart
warms to him when he can bring forward some example of cruelty or
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The Moon and Sixpence
meanness； and he exults like an inquisitor at the of an
heretic when with some forgotten story he can confound the filial piety of
the Rev。 Robert Strickland。 His industry has been amazing。 Nothing has
been too small to escape him； and you may be sure that if Charles
Strickland left a laundry bill unpaid it will be given you ；
and if he forebore to return a borrowed half…crown no detail of the
transaction will be omitted。
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The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter II
When so much has been written about Charles Strickland； it may seem
unnecessary that I should write more。 A painter's monument is his work。
It is true I knew him more intimately than most： I met him first before
ever he became a painter； and I saw him not infrequently during the
difficult years he spent in Paris； but I do not suppose I should ever have
set down my recollections if the hazards of the war had not taken me to
Tahiti。 There； as is notorious； he spent the last years of his life； and there
I came across persons who were familiar with him。 I find myself in a
position to throw light on just that part of his tragic career which has
remained most obscure。 If they who believe in Strickland's greatness are
right； the personal narratives of such as knew him in the flesh can hardly
be superfluous。 What would we not give for the reminiscences of
someone who had been as intimately acquainted with El Greco as I was
with Strickland？
But I seek refuge in no such excuses。 I forget who it was that
recommended men for their soul's good to do each day two things they
disliked： it was a wise man； and it is a precept that I have followed
scrupulously； for every day I have got up and I have gone to bed。 But
there is in my nature a strain of asceticism； and I have subjected my flesh
each week to a more severe mortification。 I have never failed to read the
Literary Supplement of 。 It is a salutary discipline to
consider the vast number of books that are written； the fair hopes with
which their authors see them published； and the fate which awaits them。
What chance is there that any book will make its way among that
multitude？ And the successful books are but the successes of a season。
Heaven knows what pains the author has been at； what bitter experiences
he has endured and what heartache suffered； to give some chance reader a
few hours' relaxation or to while away the tedium of a journey。 And