The meaning of giving

To try to criticise a work of art historically is to play the science-besotted fool. No more disastrous theory was ever issued from the brain of a charlatan than that of evolution in art. Giotto did not creep, a grub, that Titian might flaunt or a butterfly. To think of any man's art as leading on to the art of someone else is to misunderstand it. To praise or abuse or enjoy in any good possible way.

Appreciating beauty

be interested in a work of art because it leads or does not lead to any other work of art is to treat it as though it were not any works of art. Therefore, be sure that, in thins next chapter, I am not going to make some aesthetic judgments in the light of history ; I am going to read history in that light of those aesthetic judgments. Having made my judgments, independently of any theory, aesthetic or non-aesthetic, I shall always be amused by all of this beauty.