Luke Syson: How I learned to stop worrying and love "useless" art

The speaker reflects on their journey from curating Italian Renaissance paintings to managing European sculpture and decorative arts at the Met. Initially repulsed by a Sèvres vase, they come to appreciate its design and imaginative qualities. The talk explores the role of art in transcending material reality and critiques modernism's impact on imagination. The speaker concludes by encouraging others to embrace art's imaginative potential.

What did Leonardo da Vinci believe was the painter's task?

• To paint only religious themes

• To focus solely on human emotions

• To depict both visible and invisible aspects of the universe

• To capture only visible elements

What was the speaker's initial reaction to the Sèvres vase?

• Curiosity about its history

• Admiration for its beauty

• Indifference towards its design

• Repulsion and a sense of alienation

What did the speaker initially find vulgar about the Sèvres vase?

• Its lack of color

• Its association with modern art

• Its excessive use of gold

• Its historical significance

How does the speaker relate the Sèvres vase to 18th-century French aristocracy?

• As a symbol of their practicality

• As a representation of their artistic skills

• As an example of their extravagance and detachment from reality

• As a sign of their political power

How did the speaker's perception of the Sèvres vase change over time?

• They began to appreciate its design and imaginative qualities

• They decided to remove it from the museum

• They ignored it completely

• They continued to dislike it

What does the speaker suggest about modernist values?

• They promote excessive ornamentation

• They restrict imagination by focusing on form and function

• They encourage imagination

• They are irrelevant to art

What does the speaker compare the Sèvres vase to in terms of its imaginative potential?

• A modern sculpture

• A Leonardo da Vinci painting

• A piece of furniture

• A historical document

What is the significance of the Staffordshire figure to the speaker?

• It symbolizes the integration of imagination into daily life

• It is a valuable antique

• It is a reminder of their past career

• It represents a historical event

What does the speaker hope visitors will do with objects from the museum?

• Sell them for profit

• Use them for decoration

• Allow them to inspire their imagination

• Ignore their historical context

What does the speaker suggest about the role of imagination in modern life?

• It is only relevant to artists

• It should be integrated into everyday experiences

• It should be confined to art galleries

• It is less important than practicality