The Habitual Acceptance Of The Near Enough

Synopsis

THE STORY: The scene is the Soho gallery of Arthur Demuirgus, a rich and respected art dealer who represents the works of many celebrated and successful contemporary painters.

Although it has slipped his mind, he has an appointment to look at the portfolio of a young artist from the midwest, Martin Thoth, so he graciously agrees to keep his word, even though it will mean being late for his next appointment.

As he studies the slides which Thoth has brought with him much is revealed about the two men: Demuirgus' discernment and taste (and his steely eye for what is salable); and the young painter's broad-ranging talent and sensitivity (and his total lack of concern for the demands of the market place).

The older man's appreciation of Thoth's creative genius is genuine and profound but so, alas, is his conviction that until the young artist develops an individual, consistent style, which is distinctly his own, his commercial prospects will be limited.

As they part the two men are at an impasse, both convinced that they are in the right and both, by their own lights, fully justified in believing so.