New to me, but immediately reconizable, and a perfect choice for his purpose, by Christopher Morley, in an introduction to a piece by Max Beerbohm.
"This portrait of the unfortunate cleric annihilated by Dr. Johnson is a triumphant example of the skill with which a perfect artist can manœuver a trifle, carved like and ivory trinket; in such hands, subtlety never becomes mere tenuity."
tenuity
n.,
pl. 3ties 5MFr tenuit= < L tenuitas6 the quality or state of being tenuous; specif.,
a) thinness; slenderness; fineness b) lack of substance; rarity, as of air c) faintness, as of light or voice d) meagerness; slightness
