DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18734#0243
[ 46 ]
quiry of the author is unnoticed ? The two Walkers
are both marked flourished 1760 ; while Anthony has
been dead many years, and William flourifhes {till:
Moreover, William mould not have been put before
Anthony, fince he learned the art of engraving from
Anthony, being originally (we think) a dyer.
Mr. S. has accuftomed himfelf to look with fuch
reverence on the old mailers, that he has forgot thofe
leifer particularities which operate with much force,,
though with little notice : Thus in his frontifpiece he
fuppofes (what we think could not be,) that Marc
Antonio has engraved this fubject as a compofition of
Raphaelle ; where, as we fee in it nothing more than
a couple of fludies from nature (for academy figures we
muft not call them) ; which being well drawn, and
happening to pleafe the engraver, he has put together,,,
and thereby compofed an Adam offering the forbidden
fruit to Eve. Moreover, this feems a jufl inftance of Pi-
cart's fuppofition, that the engravers of thofe times
took unwarrantable liberties in the addition of back-
grounds, &c. for furely Raphaelle did not compofe
fuch a paradife ; where two trees grow like fillers, each
having loft a limb by the jaw ; and where in the back-
ground are feveral farm-houfes of two /lories each, and
one with a fpire to it; but no living creature befide the
original pair, and the cherub-faced ferpent. Now we
think it evident, that of thefe old matters one mull be in
an error; will Mr. S. lay it on the painter, or on the
engraver i Nor can any perfon judge by the print be-
fore him, what credit is due to the abilities of Marc
Antonio, lince, Mr. S. having " confidered the ori-
44 ginal print as a drawing," has added a modern man-
quiry of the author is unnoticed ? The two Walkers
are both marked flourished 1760 ; while Anthony has
been dead many years, and William flourifhes {till:
Moreover, William mould not have been put before
Anthony, fince he learned the art of engraving from
Anthony, being originally (we think) a dyer.
Mr. S. has accuftomed himfelf to look with fuch
reverence on the old mailers, that he has forgot thofe
leifer particularities which operate with much force,,
though with little notice : Thus in his frontifpiece he
fuppofes (what we think could not be,) that Marc
Antonio has engraved this fubject as a compofition of
Raphaelle ; where, as we fee in it nothing more than
a couple of fludies from nature (for academy figures we
muft not call them) ; which being well drawn, and
happening to pleafe the engraver, he has put together,,,
and thereby compofed an Adam offering the forbidden
fruit to Eve. Moreover, this feems a jufl inftance of Pi-
cart's fuppofition, that the engravers of thofe times
took unwarrantable liberties in the addition of back-
grounds, &c. for furely Raphaelle did not compofe
fuch a paradife ; where two trees grow like fillers, each
having loft a limb by the jaw ; and where in the back-
ground are feveral farm-houfes of two /lories each, and
one with a fpire to it; but no living creature befide the
original pair, and the cherub-faced ferpent. Now we
think it evident, that of thefe old matters one mull be in
an error; will Mr. S. lay it on the painter, or on the
engraver i Nor can any perfon judge by the print be-
fore him, what credit is due to the abilities of Marc
Antonio, lince, Mr. S. having " confidered the ori-
44 ginal print as a drawing," has added a modern man-