title: The Madonna of the Future: Essays in a Pluralistic Art World
author:  Arthur C. Danto 
description: "Danto, who started out as a painter, is acutely aware of the differences between art and the philosophy of art . . . . [He is] one of our most thoughtful and stimulating writers on art."--"ARTnews
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  ![cover](resources/_cover_.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  # The Madonna of the Future
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Henry James
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We had been talking about the masters who had achieved but a single
  
  
  masterpiece--the artists and poets who but once in their lives had
  
  
  known the divine afflatus and touched the high level of perfection.
  
  
  Our host had been showing us a charming little cabinet picture by a
  
  
  painter whose name we had never heard, and who, after this single
  
  
  spasmodic bid for fame, had apparently relapsed into obscurity and
  
  
  mediocrity. There was some discussion as to the frequency of this
  
  
  phenomenon; during which, I observed, H- sat silent, finishing his
  
  
  cigar with a meditative air, and looking at the picture which was
  
  
  being handed round the table. "I don't know how common a case it
  
  
  is," he said at last, "but I have seen it. I have known a poor
  
  
  fellow who painted his one masterpiece, and"--he added with a smile--
  
  
  "he didn't even paint that. He made his bid for fame 