DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0031
lect. I.] history op art. 21
Sculpture followed very nearly the track of
Architecture : first it engaged its skill in carving of
wood, then of ivory, then of clay, then of stone
and of marble ; at length, it treated gems in a man-
ner truly wonderful for accuracy and for minuteness :
strongly contrasting these almost microscopic ob-
jects with the colossal works which it produced in
metals.
Painting used, at first/one simple colour, which
delineated the outline of its subject, and afterwards
filled it up ; other colours were gradually introduced
for the sake of variety, splendor, and effect. Doubt-
less these colours were such earths as nature most
readily offered t it could not be till after some time,
and no small progress in other sciences, that colours
requiring any degree of chymical preparation could
be adopted into use ; but these, when known, and
approved by experience, being desirable by reason
of their brilliancy, or their durability, would be ea-
gerly employed when requisite in certain effects.
As we are about to notice a very considerable
change in the materials used in the art of painting,
it may be proper to desire attention to a few previous
remarks on this subject.
Many have been the conjectures concerning the
vehicle, by means of which the ancient painters pre-
pared their colours; but no satisfactory hvpothesis
has yet been devised. Whatever it might be, it has
preserved their colours to the present time, with a
vigour and brilliancy perfectly surprising ; and even
some remains of very early ages, by the accounts of
travellers who have visited them, are equally fresh
and
Sculpture followed very nearly the track of
Architecture : first it engaged its skill in carving of
wood, then of ivory, then of clay, then of stone
and of marble ; at length, it treated gems in a man-
ner truly wonderful for accuracy and for minuteness :
strongly contrasting these almost microscopic ob-
jects with the colossal works which it produced in
metals.
Painting used, at first/one simple colour, which
delineated the outline of its subject, and afterwards
filled it up ; other colours were gradually introduced
for the sake of variety, splendor, and effect. Doubt-
less these colours were such earths as nature most
readily offered t it could not be till after some time,
and no small progress in other sciences, that colours
requiring any degree of chymical preparation could
be adopted into use ; but these, when known, and
approved by experience, being desirable by reason
of their brilliancy, or their durability, would be ea-
gerly employed when requisite in certain effects.
As we are about to notice a very considerable
change in the materials used in the art of painting,
it may be proper to desire attention to a few previous
remarks on this subject.
Many have been the conjectures concerning the
vehicle, by means of which the ancient painters pre-
pared their colours; but no satisfactory hvpothesis
has yet been devised. Whatever it might be, it has
preserved their colours to the present time, with a
vigour and brilliancy perfectly surprising ; and even
some remains of very early ages, by the accounts of
travellers who have visited them, are equally fresh
and