DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0296
lec. viii.] proportions of the figure. 207
may somewhat remedy this ; but if too small, they
are beyond assistance.
The Eye-lids are naturally flexible; their mo-
tion is, as it were, a gliding ; consequently a stiff line
is ill applied to them : an easy, tender, smooth line,
(and neither too open, nor too shut) suits this feature.
The Eye-brows assist, and, as it were, complete
the beauty of the Eyes; they should possess an
agreeable arch; the hairs which adorn them should
be fine ; and certainly, the brows should be distinct
from each other, and not united, notwithstanding
the poetical authority of Theocritus, or any other
bard, whose mistress might happen to be thus dis-
tinguished.
The Mouth may dispute with the Eyes for
beauty : its form is made to produce a full effect ;
the upper lip is narrower than the under lip, which
is somewhat fuller : this contributes to the pleasing
rounding of the chin. The Mouth not altogether
closed, has an agreeable effect in picture. As to
the effect of the teeth, as in laughing, &c. it is not
always happy; and was seldom expressed by the
Ancients, who rarely chose to open the Mouth be-
yond a cautious moderation.
The Chin has often, in nature, a dimple in the
middle of it: which is, frequently, thought very
pleasing; it is, however, remarkable, that the an-
cient artists rather preferred a full, round, rising,
chin, without this division of its surface : which cer-
tainly in some degree breaks the uniformity of its
figure, and. of the light which it reflects. The Venus
of Medicis, however, has this dimple; but rather as.
contributing
may somewhat remedy this ; but if too small, they
are beyond assistance.
The Eye-lids are naturally flexible; their mo-
tion is, as it were, a gliding ; consequently a stiff line
is ill applied to them : an easy, tender, smooth line,
(and neither too open, nor too shut) suits this feature.
The Eye-brows assist, and, as it were, complete
the beauty of the Eyes; they should possess an
agreeable arch; the hairs which adorn them should
be fine ; and certainly, the brows should be distinct
from each other, and not united, notwithstanding
the poetical authority of Theocritus, or any other
bard, whose mistress might happen to be thus dis-
tinguished.
The Mouth may dispute with the Eyes for
beauty : its form is made to produce a full effect ;
the upper lip is narrower than the under lip, which
is somewhat fuller : this contributes to the pleasing
rounding of the chin. The Mouth not altogether
closed, has an agreeable effect in picture. As to
the effect of the teeth, as in laughing, &c. it is not
always happy; and was seldom expressed by the
Ancients, who rarely chose to open the Mouth be-
yond a cautious moderation.
The Chin has often, in nature, a dimple in the
middle of it: which is, frequently, thought very
pleasing; it is, however, remarkable, that the an-
cient artists rather preferred a full, round, rising,
chin, without this division of its surface : which cer-
tainly in some degree breaks the uniformity of its
figure, and. of the light which it reflects. The Venus
of Medicis, however, has this dimple; but rather as.
contributing