000 02309cam a22003013u 4500
001 2460
003 UtSlPG
005 20260610133058.0
006 m
007 cr n
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040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aPS
100 1 _aJames, Henry,
_d1843-1916
245 1 4 _aThe Madonna of the Future
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2001
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
500 _aRelease date is 2001-01-01
508 _aTranscribed from the 1887 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price, proofed by Jennifer Austin
520 _a"The Madonna of the Future" by Henry James is a novella written in the late 19th century, during the transitional period between the Victorian era and the early modern age. The narrative explores themes of artistic aspiration, the struggle for perfection in art, and the complex relationships between artists and their subjects. Set primarily in Florence, it reflects on the nature of artistic ambition and the dichotomy between idealism and reality. The story centers on an American artist named Theobald, who is obsessed with creating a masterpiece—a Madonna that synthesizes the best attributes of past representations of the Virgin Mary. The protagonist, who serves as the narrator, recounts his encounters with Theobald, whose lofty ideals and passionate devotion to art seem at odds with his inability to create anything significant. As their friendship develops, the narrator learns about Theobald's muse, Serafina, a beautiful woman whose simplicity and maternal aura have captured Theobald’s imagination. However, Theobald's fixation leads to a tragic realization that time has worn away the freshness of both his muse and his own artistic prospects. Ultimately, the story serves as a poignant reflection on the struggle between artistic ambition and the harsh realities of life, culminating in a meditation on failure and loss. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534 _nOriginal publication data not identified
653 _aArtists -- Fiction
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2460
999 _c44541
_d44541