Did Sherlock Holmes enjoy art

Answer 1

Holmes speaks often of the art of detection though I suspect you are referring to a different kind of art. Holmes makes this statement in 'The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter': ". . . my grandmother . . . was the sister of Vernet, the French artist. Art in the blood is liable to take the strangest forms."

In 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' Watson writes this: "For two hours the strange business in which we had been involved appeared to be forgotten, and he [Holmes] was entirely absorbed in the pictures of the modern Belgian masters. He would talk of nothing but art, of which he had the crudest ideas, from our leaving the gallery . . . ."

Later in the same story we find this exchange between Holmes and Sir Henry Baskerville:

___"Excuse the admiration of a connoisseur," said he, as he waved his hand towards the line of portraits which covered the opposite wall. "Watson won't allow that I know anything of art, but that is mere jealousy, because our views upon the subject differ. Now, these are a really very fine series of portraits."

___"Well, I'm glad to hear you say so," said Sir Henry, glancing with some surprise at my friend. "I don't pretend to know much about these things, and I'd be a better judge of a horse or a steer than of a picture. I didn't know that you found time for such things."

___"I know what is good when I see it, and I see it now. That's a Kneller, I'll swear, that lady in the blue silk over yonder, and the stout gentleman with the wig ought to be a Reynolds. They are all family portraits, I presume?"