This lecture investigates the apparent contradictions in Voltaire's aesthetic theories and his practical engagement with the arts. Theodore Besterman, a preeminent Voltaire scholar, utilizes his extensive knowledge of the Enlightenment thinker's correspondence and works to reconcile Voltaire's rigid classical standards with his innovative creative output. The lecture argues that Voltaire's perspective on the arts is not a static set of rules but a dynamic, often paradoxical, response to the cultural shifts of the eighteenth century.

Experts recognize this lecture as a concise, authoritative synthesis of Besterman's lifelong research into Voltaire's intellectual life. Scholars often cite this text for its clarity in navigating the complex relationship between Voltaire's public criticism and his private artistic philosophy.