The legacies of John Ruskin and William Morris in Oscar Wilde’s American lectures

One would expect Oscar Wilde, as a dandy, to be interested in the decorative arts only because of their aesthetic and not their political aspect. However, his consideration of the decorative arts is in fact accompanied by a questioning about society and human work. First, he criticizes the opposition between the beautiful and the useful, as well as between fine arts and crafts, pitting them both against industrial and mechanical production. Second, he shows how art can enhance our sensitivity and provide beauty in our lives.