DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0050
40 history OF ART". [lECT. IV
had we delineations of the animal intended, we should
be under no such embarassing perplexity.
This is of more importance than may seem at first
sight; and it is of importance, especially, in our
commercial nation, which imports such a vast va-
riety of articles from all quarters of the globe. To
general readers, a representation of the tea-tree is
pleasing, because the plant probably yields their
beverage ; but ro the merchant who deals in the com-
modity, it is more than pleasant; it is interesting.
Plants that yield medicine are with great propriety
studied and examined by the faculty, and by all
lovers of natural knowledge : but as the plants them-
selves are, often, not to be procured, the best pos-
sible substitute is furnished bv the imitative Arts.
The same may be said of natural history in general;
it may be inconvenient to keep elephants, lions,
tigers, crocodiles, whales, and sharks: I say, though
we desire a knowledge of these creatures, it may not
suit us to keep them, but, by means of Design, we
may easily acquire no despicable portion of acquaint-
ance with their forms, sizes, proportions, natures,
and manners. We mav know so much of them as
may be of use for us to know ; and that, at an ex-
pence so trifling as to suit everv purse. If Man be
the noblest subject of study, the Arts assist us in
the Study of Alan : if nature at large be our study,
they assist us in the study of nature ; nay, in fact,
nature cannot be efieetivclv studied without them.
By means of the Arts the productions of nature,
or of art, in every part of the globe, become fami-
liar to usj we contemplate, without danger, the
Groenlander
had we delineations of the animal intended, we should
be under no such embarassing perplexity.
This is of more importance than may seem at first
sight; and it is of importance, especially, in our
commercial nation, which imports such a vast va-
riety of articles from all quarters of the globe. To
general readers, a representation of the tea-tree is
pleasing, because the plant probably yields their
beverage ; but ro the merchant who deals in the com-
modity, it is more than pleasant; it is interesting.
Plants that yield medicine are with great propriety
studied and examined by the faculty, and by all
lovers of natural knowledge : but as the plants them-
selves are, often, not to be procured, the best pos-
sible substitute is furnished bv the imitative Arts.
The same may be said of natural history in general;
it may be inconvenient to keep elephants, lions,
tigers, crocodiles, whales, and sharks: I say, though
we desire a knowledge of these creatures, it may not
suit us to keep them, but, by means of Design, we
may easily acquire no despicable portion of acquaint-
ance with their forms, sizes, proportions, natures,
and manners. We mav know so much of them as
may be of use for us to know ; and that, at an ex-
pence so trifling as to suit everv purse. If Man be
the noblest subject of study, the Arts assist us in
the Study of Alan : if nature at large be our study,
they assist us in the study of nature ; nay, in fact,
nature cannot be efieetivclv studied without them.
By means of the Arts the productions of nature,
or of art, in every part of the globe, become fami-
liar to usj we contemplate, without danger, the
Groenlander