“I would venture to warn against too great intimacy with artists as it is very seductive and a little dangerous.”
- May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901
- British
- Queen of the United Kingdom, Empress of India
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Quote
“I would venture to warn against too great intimacy with artists as it is very seductive and a little dangerous.”
Explanation
Queen Victoria’s warning about “too great intimacy with artists” reveals her view that the artistic temperament, while alluring, poses a subtle moral or emotional risk. Describing it as “very seductive and a little dangerous,” she hints at a belief that artists possess a charm capable of disrupting conventional boundaries, perhaps stirring desires or thoughts that conflict with the decorum and restraint prized in her time. This statement reflects a cautious, conservative view of creativity, particularly where it intersects with personal relationships or social order.
During the Victorian era, artists often occupied a paradoxical social space—celebrated for their talent and imagination, yet also viewed with suspicion for their perceived unconventional lifestyles. Victoria, though a patron of the arts and an accomplished sketcher herself, likely saw the bohemian lifestyle of some artists as antithetical to the values of stability, propriety, and self-discipline that defined her reign. Her concern may have stemmed from the idea that artistic intensity could blur emotional boundaries, potentially leading to scandal, distraction, or the erosion of moral rigor.
In modern terms, this quote can be interpreted as a reflection on the power of art and artists to challenge norms and stir deep emotions—both positively and disruptively. While today we celebrate intimacy with art and artists as enriching, Victoria’s perspective reminds us that throughout history, art has been seen as both an elevating force and a provocative one. Her caution speaks to the enduring tension between creativity and conformity, and the way personal relationships with artists may invite transformative, yet unpredictable, experiences.
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