DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0023
LECT. I.] HISTORY OF ART. 13
works which remain, may not have been among
such as were deemed capital ; yet I apprehend, if
the principles mentioned had prevailed, some appli-
cation of them must have tinctured the works of
even indifferent Artists; whereas, no capable judge
will attribute to such Artists, all the pictures which
have been retrieved ; some of which seem to be co-
pies, or repetitions, of excellent works.
Wishing therefore to decline repeating the eulogia
bestowed by ancient writers on the Artists of Anti-
quity, because, we are uncertain whether their praises
are not exaggerated, and because, it requires no small
knowledge of the profession to applaud judiciously
(a knowledge which those writers perhaps did not
sufficiently possess), and because, to take their ex-
pressions literally, seems too high, while to lower them
properly, is difficult, we conclude by admitting to
an honourable station the Artists of antiquity; but
we take the liberty to claim, upon some occasions, a
place at their right hands.
It is a melancholy reflection, that all things, how-
ever good in their nature, may be abused. Eeside
their subserviency to idolatry, the Arts have been
charged with introducing, or at least contributing
to the support and the spread of, luxury, and effemi-
nacy. To defend them from this imputation is a
task I mean not to undertake ; nevertheless, to me
it seems, that as courage may become brutality;
hospitality, profusion ; or oeconomy, avarice ; or, as
even the laws of a country which should be the se-
curity of each individual, may degenerate into des-
potism ^ so, in common with other noble and liberal
2 sciences,,
works which remain, may not have been among
such as were deemed capital ; yet I apprehend, if
the principles mentioned had prevailed, some appli-
cation of them must have tinctured the works of
even indifferent Artists; whereas, no capable judge
will attribute to such Artists, all the pictures which
have been retrieved ; some of which seem to be co-
pies, or repetitions, of excellent works.
Wishing therefore to decline repeating the eulogia
bestowed by ancient writers on the Artists of Anti-
quity, because, we are uncertain whether their praises
are not exaggerated, and because, it requires no small
knowledge of the profession to applaud judiciously
(a knowledge which those writers perhaps did not
sufficiently possess), and because, to take their ex-
pressions literally, seems too high, while to lower them
properly, is difficult, we conclude by admitting to
an honourable station the Artists of antiquity; but
we take the liberty to claim, upon some occasions, a
place at their right hands.
It is a melancholy reflection, that all things, how-
ever good in their nature, may be abused. Eeside
their subserviency to idolatry, the Arts have been
charged with introducing, or at least contributing
to the support and the spread of, luxury, and effemi-
nacy. To defend them from this imputation is a
task I mean not to undertake ; nevertheless, to me
it seems, that as courage may become brutality;
hospitality, profusion ; or oeconomy, avarice ; or, as
even the laws of a country which should be the se-
curity of each individual, may degenerate into des-
potism ^ so, in common with other noble and liberal
2 sciences,,