Granted, it’s the Styles section of the New York Times. Nevertheless, isn’t it rather late in the cycle of contemporary art’s growth and financial success to trot out this canard?

Flouting the long-held, politically correct prohibitions against artists living amid the kind of ritzy indulgence their collectors do, Mr. Currin and Ms. Feinstein have not only mapped out a new place for the artist in society, they also hired a decorator to make it look fabulous.

And they’re not ashamed to admit it.

“Visual artists like to think of themselves as more serious — you can’t show off that you have good taste,” said Ms. Feinstein with an exasperated shake of her head, sitting at home in the couple’s SoHo loft. “We’re always getting insulted. We were at a party at Anna Wintour’s house, and all these people are giving John grief, telling him, ‘You’re not dressed like an artist, you’re dressed like a banker.’ And he’s like: ‘Give me a break, how is an artist supposed to dress, like Jackson Pollock? That was the ’50s!’ ”

Rachel Feinstein and John Currin, Their Own Best Creations (New York Times)