DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18732#0198
miscellanies;
Y~f VERY endeavor to contribute to the augmenta-
*—' tion of general knowledge is laudable, whe-
ther it be attempted by imparting frefh ideas to the
general flock, or by diffufing thofe already known ;
rendering them more agreeable by decoration, or po-
pular by fimplicity. The author of
tc An Essay on Landscape Painting, &c."
wifhes to be confidered in the former clafs, afferting
that bis remarks are genuine, and not " fwelled by
pouring the contents of one veffel into another."
It is with regret we diffent from an author at the
very beginning of his work; but, as artifts, we can-
not but wifh this gentleman had re-confidered his
expreffions at leaft, before he ventured to infert the
following paragraphs :
" Many painters have adopted a peculiar manner,
which they have managed with fuch fkill, firmnefs
of pencil, and eafe, that, though it dees not much re-
ferable nature^ yet their pictures are juftly deemed ex-
cellent, and are highly valued by thofe, who, from
their knowledge in the art, are pleafed with the ap-
parent fkill of the mafter. Others have a habit of
finifliing fo highly, that though the forms of every
thing reprefented may be ftrictly natural, yet the
neatnefs and delicacy of the artift's manner, may
have carried him far beyond the truth. The moft
remote and evanefcent parts may be touched with a
degree of accuracy^ not at all refembling the appear-
ance of thofe objects in nature -3 whilft the gradations
E and
Y~f VERY endeavor to contribute to the augmenta-
*—' tion of general knowledge is laudable, whe-
ther it be attempted by imparting frefh ideas to the
general flock, or by diffufing thofe already known ;
rendering them more agreeable by decoration, or po-
pular by fimplicity. The author of
tc An Essay on Landscape Painting, &c."
wifhes to be confidered in the former clafs, afferting
that bis remarks are genuine, and not " fwelled by
pouring the contents of one veffel into another."
It is with regret we diffent from an author at the
very beginning of his work; but, as artifts, we can-
not but wifh this gentleman had re-confidered his
expreffions at leaft, before he ventured to infert the
following paragraphs :
" Many painters have adopted a peculiar manner,
which they have managed with fuch fkill, firmnefs
of pencil, and eafe, that, though it dees not much re-
ferable nature^ yet their pictures are juftly deemed ex-
cellent, and are highly valued by thofe, who, from
their knowledge in the art, are pleafed with the ap-
parent fkill of the mafter. Others have a habit of
finifliing fo highly, that though the forms of every
thing reprefented may be ftrictly natural, yet the
neatnefs and delicacy of the artift's manner, may
have carried him far beyond the truth. The moft
remote and evanefcent parts may be touched with a
degree of accuracy^ not at all refembling the appear-
ance of thofe objects in nature -3 whilft the gradations
E and