Art for Heart`s Sake Interpretation

...

As Ellsworth gets acquainted with the world of the Museums and Galleries he`s being caught by its charming mysteries. The revolution of the seasons is portrayed with the wonderful metaphor: the spring sun cloaks the fields and gardens with colour. The old man`s idea, as he reveals in his startling announcement, is taking part in the exhibition. In order to do that he creates an ugly picture, which imperfection is described with the epithet god-awful smudge.

That exhibition is a lifetime dream of the mature artists, so old man`s participation in it was shocking and out of place. Trees Dressed in white was not just bad. As the simile from the text imparts, it is like a salad dressing thrown violently up against the side of a house. The male nurse wants to stop Ellsworth, not to let him become a laughing stock, but the doctor insists on letting him finish, as they`ve got too far to lose everything.

Luckily, the place where the picture hangs is inconspicuous. The metaphor a raucous splash on the wall reminds us about picture`s ugliness. It`s all is followed up by the ironies, which retell that the masterpiece was noticed by the people and as some guys stopped next to the Ellsworth`s strange anomaly, Swain fled in terror.

When the letter from the Gallery arrives, Ellsworth requests somebody to read it, as his eyes, ironically, are tired from painting. The news is announced: the Gallery gives Ellsworth the first prize. The reaction of the characters, excluding the old man is quite predictable. While Koppel and Swain, overwhelmed by surprise, try to regain their ability to speak, the doctor congratulates the old grump, which is not easy, or, as the epithet says, is a supreme effort.

In the end the reader gets to know that there was no miracle in Ellsworth`s win, that the old man owns a Gallery now. His last remark (Art`s nothing … I bought the Lathrop Gallery last month) crowns the story, proving the point that nothing has changed in him.