forsakes the substance for the shadow; but it should be borne in mind
that he is only in part responsible for his actions, for the
fatal germ of insanity has been transmitted to him from his
great-grandmother. He is, indeed, the son of Gervaise, the heroine of
_L'Assommoir_ ('The Dram Shop'), by her lover Lantier. And Gervaise,
it may be remembered, was the daughter of Antoine Macquart (of 'The
Fortune of the Rougons' and 'Dr. Pascal'), the latter being the
illegitimate son of Adelaide Fouque, from whom sprang the insanity of
the Rougon-Macquarts. At the same time, whatever view may be taken of
Claude's artistic theories, whatever interest his ultimate fate may
inspire, it cannot be denied that his opinions on painting are very
ably expressed, and that his 'case,' from a pathological point of
view, is diagnosticated by M. Zola with all the skill of a physician.
Moreover, there can be but one opinion concerning the helpmate of his
life, the poor devoted Christine; and no one possessed of feeling will
be able to read the history of little Jacques unmoved.

Stories of artistic life are not as a rule particularly popular with
English readers, but this is not surprising when one remembers that
those who take a genuine interest in art, in this country, are still a
small minority. Quite apart from artistic matters, however, there is,
I think, an abundance of human interest in the pages of 'His
Masterpiece,' and thus I venture to hope that the present version,
which I have prepared as carefully as my powers permit, will meet with
the favour of those who have supported me, for a good many years now,
in my endeavours to make the majority of M. Zola's works accessible in
this country.

E. A. V.