# The Arts explained — Penguin Island

> Chapter companion for Penguin Island by Anatole France.

## What happens

The narrator discusses the origins of Penguin painting, the destruction of early works, and the admiration for primitive art, using Margaritone of Arezzo as a representative example. The chapter includes a critique of artistic evolution and a prophetic vision of the Renaissance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Satire of Religion

The chapter satirizes religious art and the cult of primitives, with Margaritone's vision mocking the sensual turn in sacred painting.

### Progress and Its Discontents

Margaritone laments the rise of Renaissance art, viewing it as a decline from spiritual purity, reflecting discontent with artistic progress.

### Human Folly and Vanity

The critics' exaggerated praise of primitive art and MacSilly's absurd reaction highlight human folly and vanity in aesthetic judgments.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator describes personal experiences with primitive art and reflects on Penguin painting.

### Margaritone

The great Margaritone of Arezzo is discussed as a representative primitive painter; his works and prophetic vision are detailed.

### MacSilly

The seraphic aesthete of Edinburgh who extols the Madonna of Margaritone and describes its transformative effect.

### Brother Samuel

Mentioned as part of the multitude of little Samuels who became professors and founded the cult of the primitives.

### St. Catherine of Alexandria

Appears in Margaritone's vision of future art, depicted with sumptuous velvets and pearls.

## Key lines

> The Penguin critics vie with one another in affirming that Penguin art has from its origin been distinguished by a powerful and pleasing originality, and that we may look elsewhere in vain for the qualities of grace and reason that characterise its earliest works.

Penguin critics boast that their art is uniquely original and graceful from the start, unmatched by any other.

_Highlights the nationalistic pride in art criticism._

> Margaritone, full of years and labours, went one day to visit the studio of a young painter who had lately settled in the town. He noticed in the studio a freshly painted Madonna, which, although severe and rigid, nevertheless, by a certain exactness in the proportions and a devilish mingling of light and shade, assumed an appearance of relief and life.

Old Margaritone visits a young painter's studio and sees a Madonna that, despite its stiffness, looks lifelike due to precise proportions and shading.

_Sets up Margaritone's horrified vision of future art._

> And the great Margaritone died, strangled by so horrible a presentiment of the Renaissance and the Bolognese School.

Margaritone died, choked by his terrifying foresight of the Renaissance and Bolognese art.

_Dramatic conclusion to the chapter's critique of artistic change._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/v-the-arts
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters