DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18731#0060
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But may not the arts contribute to morality?
I am firmly perfuaded, that every talent of the
human mind not only may, but ought to ad-
vance good morals: to think otherwife, ap-
pears to me, inconfiftenr with the character,
and attributes, of our divine author, « from
whom defcends every good, and every perfect
Ever refpected be the memory of the inge-
nious Hogarth, who has taught us to anfwer
this queftion by affording an inftance to which
we appeal j happy had it been for Him, if all
his productions had equally tended to the en-
couragement of virtue, and the correction of
vice ; but, while his hiftory of the Induftrious,
and Idle Prentices, and his Harlot's, and Rake's
progrefs remain, we fhall not ceafe to confider
them as laudable examples of what may be
done, by the power of the pencil, in the caufe
of morality. Nor let the works of Mr. Penny
be pafied over without encomium, by who-
ever recollects his pictures of Vice neglected in
ficknefs; and Virtue furrounded by fympa-
thifing friends,
Before I proceed to confider the practical
part of the arts, permit me, Ladies and Gen-
tlemen, to introduce a few obfervations on
£hat difpofition of mind which is favorable to
their
But may not the arts contribute to morality?
I am firmly perfuaded, that every talent of the
human mind not only may, but ought to ad-
vance good morals: to think otherwife, ap-
pears to me, inconfiftenr with the character,
and attributes, of our divine author, « from
whom defcends every good, and every perfect
Ever refpected be the memory of the inge-
nious Hogarth, who has taught us to anfwer
this queftion by affording an inftance to which
we appeal j happy had it been for Him, if all
his productions had equally tended to the en-
couragement of virtue, and the correction of
vice ; but, while his hiftory of the Induftrious,
and Idle Prentices, and his Harlot's, and Rake's
progrefs remain, we fhall not ceafe to confider
them as laudable examples of what may be
done, by the power of the pencil, in the caufe
of morality. Nor let the works of Mr. Penny
be pafied over without encomium, by who-
ever recollects his pictures of Vice neglected in
ficknefs; and Virtue furrounded by fympa-
thifing friends,
Before I proceed to confider the practical
part of the arts, permit me, Ladies and Gen-
tlemen, to introduce a few obfervations on
£hat difpofition of mind which is favorable to
their