The Critics
from [Fantastic Fables] by [Ambrose Bierce]

WHILE bathing, [Antinous] was seen by [Minerva], who was so [enamoured] of his [beauty] that, all armed as she happened to be, she descended from [Olympus] to [woo] him; but, unluckily displaying her [shield], with the head of [Medusa] on it, she had the unhappiness to see the beautiful [mortal] turn to stone from catching a [glimpse] of it. She straightway ascended to ask [Jove] to restore him; but before this could be done a [Sculptor] and a [Critic] passed that way and espied him.

"This is a very bad [Apollo]," said the [Sculptor]: "the chest is too narrow, and one arm is at least a half-inch shorter than the other. The [attitude] is unnatural, and I may say impossible. Ah! my friend, you should see my [statue] of [Antinous]."

"In my judgment, the figure," said the [Critic], "is [tolerably] good, though rather [Etrurian], but the expression of the face is decidedly [Tuscan], and therefore [false] to nature. By the way, have you read my work on 'The [Fallacious]ness of the [Aspect]ual in [Art]'?"

The Critics (idea)