DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18732#0319
[ I4° ]
am fo far from feverity in this cafe, that for my part, if
it is true, I fay, fhe was right: There is no greater
proof of refpectable ability, than a promptitude to em-
brace good advice ; and advice, by the bye, will always
be ufeful in hiftorical, or poetical-fancy fubjects, con-
taining groups of figures, which was this lady's branch.
But either the difficulties attending that ftudy, or the
rarity of a friend competent to the office of fuperinten-
dence, render it no general favourite among female
artifts.
Mrs. Cosway, wife to Mr. Cosway, the painter,
has followed the fame track.
Portrait-painting has found more numerous votaries,
and fome, who profeffed this department, have fhown
themfelves not unfuccefsful in others.
Mrs. Grace, of whom I have obtained leave to
tranfmit a portrait, from a picture by herfelf, is an
inftance of merit attained by application and induftry,
without any material regular tuition. The mo ft in-
ftru6tion fhe ever received, being from a perfon whofe
office was to clean the pictures, &c. in Somerfet-Houfe,
and elfewhere. (By the bye, at Somerfet-Houfe was
then a very confiderable collection of originals, by the
beft matters, as well foreign as native.) From him fhe
learned the nature and ufe of colours, and from the
pictures which that opportunity prefented, fhe learned
the principles of the art. By diligence and repetition
fhe attained to very great fkill in imitating the pictures of
old matters. Portraits muft ever be the ftandard em-
ployment of Englifh painters ; and this lady has painted
% many,
am fo far from feverity in this cafe, that for my part, if
it is true, I fay, fhe was right: There is no greater
proof of refpectable ability, than a promptitude to em-
brace good advice ; and advice, by the bye, will always
be ufeful in hiftorical, or poetical-fancy fubjects, con-
taining groups of figures, which was this lady's branch.
But either the difficulties attending that ftudy, or the
rarity of a friend competent to the office of fuperinten-
dence, render it no general favourite among female
artifts.
Mrs. Cosway, wife to Mr. Cosway, the painter,
has followed the fame track.
Portrait-painting has found more numerous votaries,
and fome, who profeffed this department, have fhown
themfelves not unfuccefsful in others.
Mrs. Grace, of whom I have obtained leave to
tranfmit a portrait, from a picture by herfelf, is an
inftance of merit attained by application and induftry,
without any material regular tuition. The mo ft in-
ftru6tion fhe ever received, being from a perfon whofe
office was to clean the pictures, &c. in Somerfet-Houfe,
and elfewhere. (By the bye, at Somerfet-Houfe was
then a very confiderable collection of originals, by the
beft matters, as well foreign as native.) From him fhe
learned the nature and ufe of colours, and from the
pictures which that opportunity prefented, fhe learned
the principles of the art. By diligence and repetition
fhe attained to very great fkill in imitating the pictures of
old matters. Portraits muft ever be the ftandard em-
ployment of Englifh painters ; and this lady has painted
% many,