Quote by George Eliot

Sir Joshua would have been glad to take her portrait; and he would have had an easier task than the historian at least in this, that he would not have had to represent the truth of change --only to give stability to one beautiful moment.

Sir Joshua would have been glad to take her portrait; and he

Summary

This quote suggests that capturing someone's portrait, like Sir Joshua Reynolds, would have been easier than depicting them accurately in a historical account. Unlike historians who must convey the truth of change over time, a portrait painter can focus on freezing a person's beauty in a single moment, providing a sense of stability and permanence.

Topics

Portraits

By George Eliot

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