The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (4.1790)

20 ATT

each other are mod apparent : this article is of the great-
eft confequence to correction ; as an error here a ft efts
the whole limb.

ARTIST-LIKE is applied to fubjects treated with
fpirit, flail, and propriety, in a mafterly manner and
ftyle.

ATTTIUDE y the general action of a figure : the
pofture chofen by the artift for his figure. The effect of
attitude depends on defign. The ancients ftudied deeply
whatever might contribute to the elegance of attitude ;
and herein they are in many refpecls our preceptors.

Attitudes fhould be natural: fuch as the human body
is not only capable of, (i. e. fuch as it poffibly could
produce, as inpofture-mafters and ilage tumblers, dancers,
&c.) but fuch as without conftraint it choofes, and as it
were, enjoys, Walking, for inftance, varies as it is
quicker or flower • and the movement is in both thefe
cafes eafy and natural : but although it is poffible for
a perfon to walk on tip-toe, yet, unlefs fuch an attitude
is neceffary as contributing to expreffion, it is reprehen-
fible in a figure walking.

Attitude fhould alfo be char after iflic, fince many at-
titudes are contracted through perfonal habit : and ex-
prejjive, fince otherwife it is unintelligible.

Attitude fhould be fimple : fudden breaks in the gene-,
ral lines of a figure, injure attitude. There are in na-
ture an infinite variety of attitudes, to perform the fame
thing. A figure feen on its different fides, forms almoft
fo many different attitudes : but not all equally good,
becaufe in fome there muft be an inferiority of parts,
and an interruption of the principal fway of the figure.

Gontrafi