In this influential philosophical work, Professor Van Dyke explores the nature and purpose of painting, as well as the methods and standards of artistic excellence. Through an analysis of famous artworks and artists, he argues that beauty, harmony, and emotional expressiveness are the key criteria for evaluating painting, rather than mere realism or technique. This book remains a classic in the field of art criticism. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.