DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0188
144 OF CHARACTBK. [LECT. VI,
guised by various forms of dress, as scarcely to ap-
pear the same. The uses of this principle on the
stage are notorious ; and perhaps in real life its in-
fluence is much more frequent, and deceptive, than
is generally imagined.
I shall only remark further, that as the intention
of a portrait is to preserve to posterity the likeness
of a person, it appears to me, to be the effect of a
vicious taste, when any one is painted, as it were,
in masquerade. What relation has the character of
Minerva sailing through, the air, to a modern lady :
or that of a Gypsy, or Turkish dresses, or any fo-
reign ornament ? Unless the real character of a Ladv
be what she is displeased with, or ashamed of, why
assume one to which she has no relation, and that
too in a picture whose merit is resemblance ? This
disposition is still less pardonable in the other sex,
who yet frequently forget how much dress contributes
to character. I perfectly coincide with the idea,
that in order to express situation and rank in life,
something beside mere likeness may be admirted, or
even may be necessary ; but how the robes of a Ro-
man Consul contribute to^the likeness of an Alder-
man of London, or how the omission of a wig should
signify a Poet, I protest is utterly beyond my com-
prehension. That a gentleman, who has circumna-
vigated the globe, should introduce some of his cu-
riosities, is highly just; but to whom beside himself
would a New-Zealand mantle be proper ?
I am not speaking against any becoming devia-
tion from present fashion (I hate confinement to
temporary
guised by various forms of dress, as scarcely to ap-
pear the same. The uses of this principle on the
stage are notorious ; and perhaps in real life its in-
fluence is much more frequent, and deceptive, than
is generally imagined.
I shall only remark further, that as the intention
of a portrait is to preserve to posterity the likeness
of a person, it appears to me, to be the effect of a
vicious taste, when any one is painted, as it were,
in masquerade. What relation has the character of
Minerva sailing through, the air, to a modern lady :
or that of a Gypsy, or Turkish dresses, or any fo-
reign ornament ? Unless the real character of a Ladv
be what she is displeased with, or ashamed of, why
assume one to which she has no relation, and that
too in a picture whose merit is resemblance ? This
disposition is still less pardonable in the other sex,
who yet frequently forget how much dress contributes
to character. I perfectly coincide with the idea,
that in order to express situation and rank in life,
something beside mere likeness may be admirted, or
even may be necessary ; but how the robes of a Ro-
man Consul contribute to^the likeness of an Alder-
man of London, or how the omission of a wig should
signify a Poet, I protest is utterly beyond my com-
prehension. That a gentleman, who has circumna-
vigated the globe, should introduce some of his cu-
riosities, is highly just; but to whom beside himself
would a New-Zealand mantle be proper ?
I am not speaking against any becoming devia-
tion from present fashion (I hate confinement to
temporary