The savage sincerity of the Florentine master is so great that it is not even surpassed by Rodin himself. But, aside from this, the sentiment of the two works differs completely, for, while Saint Magdalene in her voluntary renunciation seems to grow more radiant as she sees herself growing more repulsive, the old Heaulmière is terrified at finding herself like a very corpse. [Illustration: A HAND IN BRONZE By Rodin ] The modern sculpture is, therefore, much more tragic than the older work. One day, having studied this figure in the atelier for some moments in silence, I said: “Master, no one admires this astonishing figure more than I, but I hope you will not be annoyed if I tell you the effect it produces upon many of the visitors to the Musée du Luxembourg, especially upon the women.” “I shall be much obliged to you if you will.” “Well, the public generally turn away from it, crying, ‘Oh, how ugly it is!’ and I have often seen women cover their eyes with their hands to shut out the sight.” Rodin laughed heartily. “My work must be eloquent,” he said, “to make such a vivid impression, and doubtless these are people who dread stern philosophic truths. “But what solely matters to me is the opinion of people of taste, and I have been delighted to gain their approbation for my _Vieille Heaulmière_. I am like that Roman singer who replied to the jeers of the populace: _Equitibus cano_. I sing only for the nobles! that is to say, for the connoisseurs. “The vulgar readily imagine that what they consider ugly in existence is not fit subject for the artist. They would like to forbid us to represent what displeases and offends them in nature. “It is a great error on their part. “What is commonly called _ugliness_ in nature can in art become full of great beauty. “In the domain of fact we call _ugly_ whatever is deformed, whatever is unhealthy, whatever suggests the idea of disease, of debility, or of suffering, whatever is contrary to regularity, which is the sign and condition of health and strength: a hunchback is _ugly_, one who is bandy-legged is _ugly_, poverty in rags is _ugly_. [Illustration: SEBASTIAN, FOOL OF PHILIP IV By Velasquez ] “_Ugly_ also are the soul and the conduct of the immoral man, of the vicious and criminal man, of the abnormal man who is harmful to society; _ugly_ the soul of the parricide, of the traitor, of the unscrupulously ambitious. “And it is right that beings and objects from which we can expect only evil should be called by such an odious epithet. But let a great artist or a great writer make use of one or the other of these _uglinesses_, instantly it is transfigured: with a touch of his fairy wand he has turned it into beauty; it is alchemy; it is enchantment!