Indeed. Emotionally, I esteem my great great uncle because of his skill and fame. But as I looked at the prints of his commissions, it dawn on my that I didn’t like them.
I mean, I “should” like them. These are works of extraordinary skill, of brutal battles fought in extreme bravery, and painted with reverence, with money allocated by the government on behalf of the people.
But something is off in the perspective. The colours are not quite right either.
It felt wrong to stand there and think this. I am artistically talented, and can produce a decent drawing, but these are masterpieces. My investment in them was my association with them.
This is my famous uncle.
However, honestly I wouldn’t have liked these paintings had I not been related to him.
How much of what I esteem is the same type of devotion? Simply convenient by virtue of association!
What’s more, is that I don’t have to hand in some report. Send a letter the the war memorial and say “hey! I think my uncles art is overrated!” Ha.
No one cares what I think. Neither should they. I can walk away without a single soul knowing or caring. Of course, I just announced it on a public forum. So there is that. There are only so many great great nephews of Lambert.
It would be completely surreal after everything I just said to receive a letter from the government. “In light of your recent criticism of your famous relative….”.
I always liked Geoffrey saying it’s all like a rat climbing down the ropes from a cruise ship. No one cares. The party goes on.