Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c12.191

c12.191

This false premiss has given to every educated European in India a position of authority in art matters to which he is not often entitled. It has also given an immensely exaggerated importance, augmented by the high official patronage always bestowed upon them, to the annual art exhibitions organised by Anglo-Indian *dilettanti*. For though the technical standard of Anglo-Indian amateur art, judged by modern European canons, is a very high one, there has never been any serious purpose in it, and an Indian artist who does not see things, or pretend to see them, through European spectacles has not the slightest chance of recognition by the judges who make the awards which are solemnly telegraphed from one end of India to the other.