"Three of his [Millet's] canvases, especially, represented [at the exhibition 'Cent Chefs-d'Oeuvres: the Choiche of the French Private Galleries', 1883] the whole career of the artist; three absolute masterpieces, the 'Gleaners',, the 'Sheepfold by Moonlight',, the 'Man Hoeing' [Man with a Hoe, ]; all three give birth to the same surprise. It is that the figures, in their small dimensions, assume under the eye that contemplates them the scale of nature. This mirage is explained by the grandeur of this art springing from nature itself and drawing you to nature with all her force. The eye sees the thing in the dimensions which it actually has; and it is thus that it stamps itself on the memory. A great artist is able to reduce proportions without belittling the majesty of things."
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Quote by Albert Wolff, 1886, in Notes upon certain masters of the XIX century, - printed not published MDCCCLXXXVI (1886), The Art Age Press, 400 N.Y. (written after the exhibition 'Cent Chefs-d'Oeuvres: the Choiche of the French Private Galleries', Petit, Paris / Baschet, New York, 1883, p. 23
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Millet
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Jean-François Millet
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