Mrs. Vane fixed her eyes on him, and intensified the smile. She mentally elevated her son to the dignity of an audience. She felt sure that the tableau was interesting.

– Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chaper 5. Mrs. Vane seems to view life as a piece of theater. When James enters the room, where Sibyl has been excitedly telling her mother about her "Prince Charming" Dorian, her theatrical instincts kick in. Mrs. Vane imagines the moment as a "tableau" and she mentally sees her son as the audience. Theater and art are important to the Vane family and to Mrs. Vane appearances really do matter.